Systems and methods for trading emission reductions

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for facilitating trading of emission allowances and offsets among participants are described. In some embodiments, methods of facilitating such trading include establishing an emissions reduction schedule for certain participants based on emissions information provided by those participants and determining debits or credits for each participant in order to achieve the reduction schedule.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/034,752 filed Jan. 14, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/623,134, filed Jul. 18, 2003, which claims thebenefit of U.S. application No. 60/397,401 filed Jul. 20, 2002.Application Ser. No. 11/034,752 claims the benefit of U.S. applicationNo. 60/537,344 filed Jan. 15, 2004. The contents of all theseapplications are expressly incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This application includes material that is subject to copyrightprotection. The copyright owner does not object to the facsimilereproduction of the application by any person as the application appearsin the records of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but otherwisereserves all rights in the copyright.

BACKGROUND

The world's environment faces significant threats from anthropogenic or“human-caused” releases of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.Greenhouse gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, troposphericozone, nitrous oxide, and methane, are generally transparent to solarradiation but opaque to longwave radiation, thus preventing longwaveradiation energy from leaving the atmosphere. The net effect ofgreenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a trapping of absorbed radiationand a tendency to warm the planet's surface.

Greenhouse gases can be released, for example, by the release of carbondioxide during fossil fuel combustion. Thus, automobiles, factories, andother devices that combust fuel release carbon dioxide gases into theatmosphere. However, greenhouse gases can also be released by morenatural means. For example, farmers may till farmland such that carbondioxide from the tilled ground is released into the air. The removal offorest stands, or deforestation, can also result in the release ofgreenhouse gases.

In general, the rapid increases in the concentration of greenhouse gasesin the earth's atmosphere caused by human activity increases the risk offundamental and costly changes in the earth's climate system. Such riskscan include more severe drought/precipitation cycles; longer and moreextreme heat waves; spread of tropical diseases; damage to vegetationand agricultural systems; and threats to coastlines and property due tohigher sea levels and storm surges.

In the 1980's, the United States implemented an emissions trading systemto phase out lead from motor fuel. This effort was followed by a highlysuccessful U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sulfur dioxide(SO₂) emissions trading program. To reduce acid rain, an overall cap onSO₂ emissions was imposed on electric power plants. Utilities that foundit expensive to cut sulfur emissions could buy allowances from utilitiesthat make extraordinary cuts at low cost.

The SO₂ program has been successful. Emissions were reduced faster thanrequired and costs were far below most forecasts. There has also beensteady growth in the trading of allowances, from 700,000 tons in 1995 toapproximately 12 million tons in 2001. The SO₂ emissions market has nowreached a value of approximately $2 billion each year for registeredtrades.

The environmental and economic success of the U.S. sulfur dioxideallowance trading program to reduce acid rain, as well as other similarmarkets, provides evidence of the benefits of emissions trading on alarge-scale. Emissions trading introduces scarcity by establishinglimits on overall emissions, specifying firm-level limits, and allowingthose who can cut emissions at low cost to make extra cuts. Companiesfacing high costs to cut emissions can comply by purchasing tradableemission rights from those who make extra cuts. The market in aproperty-like instrument—emission allowances—helps assure efficient useof the limited resource (the environment) and yields a price thatsignals the value society places on use of the environment. That pricerepresents the financial reward paid to those who reduce emissions, andalso indicates the value of creating innovative pollution reductiontechniques.

Emission allowance trading systems, sometimes referred to as “cap andtrade” systems, can be supplemented by project-based “offsets” thatreflect reduction of greenhouse gases and/or capture and storage ofcarbon dioxide. Offsets can be generated by individual initiativesundertaken by entities that are either not significant emission sources,or have emission profiles that are naturally incorporated into themarket as offsets. For example, individual farmers can absorb and storecarbon dioxide in soils by maintaining cropping practices that useconservation tillage. Conservation tillage involves minimal disturbanceof the soil, thus trapping carbon that was transmitted to the soil bygrowth of plants.

Incorporation of offsets provides industrial emission sources with anadditional source of greenhouse gas mitigation, while also providing afunding source for activities, such as conservation tillage, whichproduce local environmental benefits such as improved water quality.

Many major industrial nations have sought the design of a greenhouse gasemissions trading program that can provide corporations and others anorganized, market-based mechanism for cost-effectively reducing globalwarming gases. This endeavor presents a means for effectively addressingclimate change while offering its owners and members a significantcommercial opportunity.

While national and sub-national governments have been studyinggreenhouse gas emissions trading programs, for several years privatesector leaders in many countries have financed mitigation projects andconducted trading with informal “carbon credits.” A World Bank studyreports that this nascent over-the-counter market has included severaldozen significant trades. The study found that, in the absence of anyregulatory framework, the dollar volume of over-the-counter transactionshas already surpassed $200 million. Furthermore, The Economist magazineprojects an annual volume of trading ranging from $60 billion to $1trillion.

Numerous governments have moved beyond planning and are implementingformal greenhouse gas markets, including the U.K., Denmark, and theNetherlands, as well as Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The EuropeanUnion has established the framework for a carbon dioxide emissionstrading system to be employed starting 2005. The European UnionDirective establishes an initial phase market in advance of a broaderand more comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions trading system amongenergy and industrial facilities in its member states starting in 2008.

A number of states, provinces, exchanges and multilateral institutionshave made detailed preparations for trading. It is in this context,recognition of a serious environmental risk, desire for least-costresponses, increasing regulation worldwide, and demands fromstakeholders that the present invention offers solutions to challengesin establishing and operating a greenhouse gas trading exchange.

Examples of barriers to greenhouse gas trading include regulatoryuncertainty; lack of a clear, widely-accepted definition of thecommodity; lack of standards for monitoring, verification, and tradedocumentation; lack of standards for eligibility of project-basedemission offsets; and lack of organized markets and clear market prices.Other barriers and challenges also exist. These barriers constitutesignificant transaction costs that impede progress in adoption ofgreenhouse gas reduction commitments by raising the costs of achievingsuch commitments.

Thus, there is a need for an improved emissions reduction trading systemthat allows realization of greenhouse gas reduction objectives at lowertransaction costs. Further, there is a need for an organized tradingsystem to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Evenfurther, there is a need for a standards-based, organized trading marketfor greenhouse gases.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a method of facilitating trade ofemission allowances and offsets among participants, which includesestablishing an emission reduction schedule for certain participantsbased on emissions information provided by those participants anddetermining debits or credits for each certain participant in order toachieve the reduction schedule. In an exemplary embodiment, theparticipants include both voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) emissionreducers and environmental benefactors, the certain participants includethe voluntary GHG emission reducers and the method further includesconducting trades between the participants. Typically, the voluntary GHGemission reducers include industrial entities, while the environmentalbenefactors include non-industrial entities, and the voluntary GHGemission reducers obtain at least some of their debits from theenvironmental benefactors.

The non-industrial entities may include (a) foresters, farmers, orothers who prepare land for facilitating prevention of greenhouse gasemissions or for capturing and storing carbon or carbon dioxide, or (b)businesses including law firms, advertising agencies, banks, shoppingcenters or other businesses that are capable of exerting control overutility or transportation uses in order to reduce or conserve such usesto reduce GHG emissions caused by generation of power or electricity forproviding such uses. The environmental benefactors are provided creditsfor conducting activities that include planting trees; keeping carbonreleased by plants in the soil; reducing electricity consumption;reducing business travel; removing pollutants from streams, lakes,landfills, or other environmentally unfriendly areas; purchasingenvironmentally friendly products; or recycling, thus facilitatingtrading of such credits or allowances by the environmental benefactorswith the voluntary GHG emission reducers.

The present invention further relates to a computer-based system forfacilitating the trade of emission allowances and offsets amongparticipants, which includes means for establishing an emissionreduction schedule for certain participants based on emissionsinformation provided by those participants and means for determiningdebits or credits for each certain participant in order to achieve thereduction schedule. Preferably, the participants include voluntary GHGemission reducers and environmental benefactors, and the certainparticipants include the voluntary GHG emission reducers. The systemalso preferably further includes (a) debits or credits representingemission reduction amounts based on the emissions information oractivities of environmental benefactors, and (b) means for conductingtrades of the debits or credits between the participants to enable eachcertain participant to achieve its reduction schedule.

Systems and methods for computing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission oremission reduction equivalents based on energy consumption orconservation activities are also disclosed.

In some embodiments, methods for computing GHG emission or emissionreduction equivalents include providing activity data based on an energyconsumption or conservation activity and associated with selectableactivity units. A factor for converting the activity data to one of GHGemission or GHG emission reduction equivalents is applied to compute theGHG emissions or emission reduction equivalents. The factor is based onthe type of energy activity and the selected activity unit. Theequivalents conform to standard values that facilitate trading betweenparticipants. The factor can be based at least in part upon a locationfeature that is related to the geographic location of the energyactivities and that is associated with selectable geographic locations.

In some embodiments, the participants include voluntary emissionreducers and environmental benefactors, and the methods further includetrading GHG emission or emission reduction equivalents between theparticipants so that the voluntary emission reducers can reduce GHGemissions.

The energy consumption or conservation activities typically include oneor more of power generation activities, transportation activities, andnon-transportation activities. Each transportation activity is relatedto an energy source consumed during transportation and is associatedwith selectable activity units that include one or more of: units oftransportation fuel consumed during transportation and units of distancetraveled during transportation, optionally modified by fuel efficiencyvalues. Each non-transportation energy activity is related to an energysource consumed independent of transportation and is associated withselectable activity units that include one or more of: units of energyconsumed during production of a product, units of a feedstock consumedduring production of a product, units of a product produced, units of aproduct consumed, units of energy consumed during operation of an officefacility, and units of office space occupied by an office facility.

In some embodiments, a database of factors is provided, in which eachfactor is associated with a type of energy activity, a geographiclocation, and an activity unit. The factor is determined by querying thedatabase to determine whether it includes a factor that is associatedwith the type of energy activity and the selected activity unit.

The factors generally include emissions factors and conservationfactors. Each emission factor is usually associated with a type ofenergy source consumed and an activity unit, while each conservationfactor is usually associated with an energy conservation activity, ageographic location, and an activity unit.

Systems and methods for reducing pollution by creating a demand for atradable GHG emission or emission reduction equivalents are alsodisclosed.

In some embodiments, methods for reducing pollution include computingGHG emission equivalents for a first participant based on the previouslydescribed methods, and enabling the first participant to acquire GHGemission reduction equivalents in an amount that is at least equivalentto the computed GHG emission equivalents so as to reduce pollution.

The methods further include computing GHG emission reduction equivalentsfor a second participant by providing activity data based on an energyconservation activity of the second participant and associated withselectable activity units. A factor for converting the activity data toGHG emission reduction equivalents is applied to compute the GHGemission reduction equivalents of the second participant. The factor istypically based on the type of energy activity and the selected activityunit. When the first participant is a voluntary emission reducer and thesecond participant is an environmental benefactor, the methods canfurther include trading GHG emission or emission reduction equivalentsbetween the participants so that the voluntary emission reducers canreduce GHG emissions.

Systems and methods for administering a market for trading GHG emissionor emission reduction equivalents are also disclosed.

In some embodiments, computer-implemented methods for administering sucha market include receiving a request from a participant to trade on themarket. In reply, the participant is requested to provide information onamounts of GHG emission or emission reduction equivalents to be traded,and the participant is registered to trade the GHG emission or emissionreduction equivalents on the market.

Activity data can be received from the participant, in which theactivity data is based on an energy consumption or conservation activityand associated with selectable activity units. A factor for convertingthe activity data to one of GHG emission or GHG emission reductionequivalents can be applied, in which the factor is based on the type ofenergy activity and the selected activity unit to compute the GHGemissions or emission reduction equivalents to confirm whether theparticipant's information on amounts of GHG emission or emissionreduction equivalents to be traded is accurate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an emissions reduction trading system inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of auction functionality withinthe system of FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an emissions reduction and trading systemin accordance with another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting exemplary operations performed in thecreation of baselines and allowance allocations.

FIG. 5 is a graph of an exemplary emissions baseline, reductionschedule, economic growth provision, and maximum mitigation quantities.

FIG. 6 is a graph of an exemplary growth provision, maximum requiredpurchases, and allowed sales quantities.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of multi-sector emissionsmonitoring, reporting, and auditing for emissions baselines and periodicemissions reports.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary true-up process.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of exemplary offset projectregistration and reporting.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary creditingmechanism for methane combustion.

FIG. 11 is a graph of exemplary forestry offsets based on carbonstorage.

FIG. 12 is an exemplary map of agricultural soil offsets based ongeographic region.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary issuance ofgreenhouse gas emission allowances upon increases in qualifying carbonstocks.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary offsetverification process.

FIG. 15 schematically illustrates another exemplary embodiment of anemissions reduction trading system.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates an exemplary display of a graphicaluser interface that facilitates computations of GHG emissions andcompliance CFIs.

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a method forcomputing GHG emissions in the exemplary system of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a method forcomputing compliance CFIs in the exemplary system of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a method forregistering CFIs for trading on a market supported by the exemplarysystem of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments will now be described to provide an overallunderstanding of the disclosed systems and methods. One or more examplesof the illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings. Those ofordinary skill in the art will understand that the disclosed systems andmethods can be adapted and modified to provide systems and methods forother applications, and that other additions and modifications can bemade to the disclosed systems and methods without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. For example, features of theillustrative embodiments can be combined, separated, interchanged,and/or rearranged to generate other embodiments. Such modifications andvariations are intended to be included within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Turning now to the figures that illustrate exemplary embodiments of theinvention, FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of anemissions reduction and trading system 10. The system 10 can include aregistry 12, a guarantee mechanism 16, and a trading host or platform18. The system 10 can be coupled to a network 20, such as the Internetor any other public or private connections of computing devices. Thesystem 10 can be communicatively coupled to an emissions database 22either directly or via the network 20.

The registry 12 serves as the official record of emission allowance andoffset holdings of each participant in the commodity market managed bythe system 10. Trades become officially acknowledged for compliancepurposes only when they are transferred across accounts in the registry12. The holdings of the registry 12 can be Carbon Financial Instruments(CFIs), such as, exchange allowances (XAs), exchange emission offsets(XOs) generated by mitigation projects, and exchange early actioncredits (XEs). Each instrument represents one hundred metric tons of CO₂and is preferably designated with a specific annual vintage. Eachinstrument is recognized as equivalent when surrendered for compliance(subject to certain constraints described below). CFIs may be used incompliance in their designated vintage year or in later years. Theseequivalents facilitate standardized trades.

In an exemplary embodiment, the registry 12 is designed to have secureInternet access by participants to their own accounts. The registry 12may be configured to provide access of accounts by the public, but thisaccess would be on a view-only basis. Preferably, the registry 12 isconfigured with the ability to interface with registries in othergreenhouse gas markets. The registry 12 is linked to the tradingplatform 18 and financial guarantee mechanism 16. The combination ofthese three components provides a clearinghouse system.

The guarantee mechanism 16 enhances market performance in several ways.The guarantee mechanism 16 ensures that those who conduct sales of CFIson the trading platform 18 receive next-day payment even if the buyerfails to execute the payment process. This mechanism allows foranonymous trading by eliminating the need to address the creditworthiness of buyers. Non-payment risk is eliminated, thus removing atransaction cost. This feature allows the participation in trading byliquidity providers (including “market makers”), who can stand ready topromptly buy and sell. The presence of standing buyers and sellersincreases trading activity, which improves the economic efficiency ofthe price discovery process. In addition, the ability to tradeanonymously allows members to post bids and offers and execute tradeswithout revealing their trading strategies. The guarantee mechanism 16,eliminates the risk that a buyer may fail to make payment.

Upon enrollment as an exchange member, the member is allocated a timestream of original issue allowances that are designated with yearlyvintages. Regardless of the method of trading employed, all deliveriesof exchange allowances (XAs) and exchange offsets (XOs) occur by havingthe transferor instruct the registry 12 to move allowances of offsetsfrom its account to the account of the transferee. Subsequent toyear-end, the emission source must transfer a quantity of appropriatevintage allowances or offsets equal to its total emissions during theprior year to the retirement account. Subsequent to the end of acompliance year, each exchange member must designate for retirement aquantity of tradable exchange CFIs equal to total emissions of thatparticipant during the compliance year.

The trading platform 18 is an electronic mechanism for hosting markettrading. The trading platform 18 provides participants with a centrallocation that facilitates trading, and publicly reveals priceinformation. The trading platform 18 reduces the cost of locatingtrading counter parties and finalizing trades, an important benefit in anew market. The trading platform 18 may also be used as the platform forconducting the periodic auctions.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary annual auction performed using system 10described with reference to FIG. 1. Alternatively, the auction can beheld intermittently throughout a year. In an exemplary embodiment, theauction operates by providing bids 30 and offers for allowances to anauction pool 32. The auction pool 32 can receive allowances from anauction reserve 34 and other offers 36. The auction reserve 34 includesexchange allowances (e.g., the XAs). Auction results include publicprice information 38, winning bids 40, and proceeds returned pro rata toparticipants 42. Winning bids 40 result in allowance transfers 44between accounts in the registry 12 described with reference to FIG. 1.

Advantageously, auctions of greenhouse gas emission allowances providean orderly mechanism for assisting the market. By publicly revealingprices, the auctions provide critical information to participants.Prices help participants formulate reasonable private trading terms and,importantly, provide signals indicating which internal greenhouse gasmitigation actions are economically logical and which actions are bestperformed by other participants who face lower mitigation costs.

The system 10 preferably conducts periodic auctions of exchangeallowances (XAs) (possibly including exchange emission offsets (XOs) forthe purpose of revealing market prices, encouraging trade, and expandingmarket participation. In an exemplary embodiment, a single-clearingprice auction is performed. Alternatively, a discriminating priceauction is used. A discriminating price method is used in the ChicagoBoard of Trade auctions for sulfur dioxide emission allowances. By wayof example, a single clearing price auction is understood to be anauction where all buyers pay the lowest price of all accepted bids. Incontrast, a discriminating price auction is understood to be an auctionwhere the successful buyers pay the price they bid regardless of whatother accepted bid prices are. As such, it is possible to have differentaccepted prices in the same auction.

FIG. 3 illustrates an emissions reduction and trading system 100. Thesystem 100 can include a registry 102, a trading platform 104, aclearing component 106, a financial institution 108, a help desk 110,and a help desk support component 112. In general, members 114 and/orparticipants 116 interact with the trading platform 104 to engage inbuying and selling allowances and offsets. For registration/maintenance118 and general inquiries 120, the members 114 and/or participants 116interact directly with the registry 102. In either case, communicationis done by way of technology standards 122. The technology standards 122can include internet protocol standards and other technology-specificstandards that facilitate communication by members 114 and/orparticipants 116.

The registry 102 can include information regarding system products, suchas, XAs, XOs, and XEs, as well as information regarding baseline andemission reduction commitments. The registry 102 can be implementedusing a database and computer software. The registry 102 can alsoinclude information on retirement accounts for allowances and offsetsand early action credits based on activities prior to establishment ofthe system.

The trading platform 104 provides members 114 and participants 116 witha structure that enables the trading of emission allowances and offsets.The trading platform 104 can be implemented as a software programproviding a user interface that enables the execution of variousfunctions. The trading platform 104 can include a market supervisionmonitor 130, a market administration console 132, and equipment 134. Theequipment 134 can include hardware and/or software, such as, routers,servers, phone lines, and the like. The market administration console132 allows the exchange to manage, intervene, and control accounts andmake adjustments to accounts (e.g., where member sells an emissionsource). The market supervision monitor 130 facilitates the oversight oftrading done using the trading platform 104 for adherence to systemrules.

The trading platform 104 is coupled to the registry 102 to obtain andcommunicate information, such as, account information and tradingrecords. The trading platform 104 also interacts with the clearingcomponent 106 in the carrying out of trades performed by members 114 andparticipants 116 on the trading platform 104. The clearing component 106can include a book entry transfer 138 that constitutes the officialmechanism by which delivery of tradable CFIs occurs, a repository 140, aregistry interface 142, and a collection component 144. The financialinstitution 108 provide for settlement of trades and may provide amechanism by which financial performance is guaranteed.

The help desk 110 provides trading support for members 114 andparticipants 116 for trades using the trading platform 104. The helpdesk support component 112 assists in customer inquiries that are madedirectly to the system without going through the trading platform 104,which may be provided and maintained by a third party.

The market (as embodied in system 10 or system 100) has been designedwith a view to commoditizing CFIs used in the trading of CFIs. Uniformand fully fungible CFIs (e.g., exchange allowances, exchange offsets,and exchange early action credits) allow for easy transfer andflexibility among participants. Uniformity reduces transaction costs,increases predictability and enhances market liquidity. Such featuresare a few of the improvements relative to the heterogeneous and hightransaction costs associated with practices currently used in theinformal market for greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Each member of the market managed by the system 10 (described withreference to FIG. 1) or the system 100 (described with reference to FIG.3) (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “market”) has anemission baseline, which can be the average of its emissions duringcertain previous years such as 1998 through 2001.

An emissions baseline preferably reflects a detailed assessment ofpatterns of industrial activity and practical considerations, such asdata availability. Emissions baselines can be adjusted to reflectacquisition or disposition of facilities. A reference emission level ispreferably established to be able to obtain emissions data, reflectvariations in economic cycles, and perform operations. An emissionreduction schedule can be defined from the reference emission level.

FIG. 4 illustrates operations performed in the creation of baselines andallowance allocations in the market. Additional, fewer, or differentoperations may be performed, depending on the embodiment. In anexemplary embodiment, an operation 410 is performed in which emissionmonitoring rules are established. Emission monitoring rules can relateto included facilities, included gases, and/or excluded gases. Theserules designate what activities count toward emissions.

In an operation 420, member emission numbers are determined using theemission monitoring rules. In some embodiments, the member emissionnumbers are computed based on the schemes described with respect toFIGS. 15-17. Emission numbers can be submitted to the market by membersor obtained electronically over a network from a database. Emissionmonitoring rules are applied such that the member emission numbers areaccurate for the creation of a baseline. Preferably, the definition ofthe baseline includes rules governing inclusion of facilities andspecifications for defining emissions “ownership” at jointly-ownedfacilities, and rules for addressing gaps in the baseline periodemissions data. Once the emission numbers are obtained, member baselinesare established in an operation 430. The baseline can be an average ofemission numbers over a certain time period, such as four years.

Adjustments can be made to the baseline in an operation 440. Baselineadjustments can be upward, for example, when emitting facilities areacquired by the member. Similarly, baseline adjustments can be downward,for example, when a member disposes of an emitting facility.

Having established a baseline, an operation 450 can be performed tocreate allowance allocations and contributions to the auction. Anemission reduction schedule created by the market is applied to createan emission schedule for each member. Preferably, the emission reductionschedule utilizes a known rule that is common among all participants. Byway of example, the schedule can call for reductions of 1%, 2%, 3% and4% below baseline emission levels during, e.g., years 2003, 2004, 2005and 2006 respectively. Members annually surrender a quantity of CFIs(e.g., exchange allowances, exchange emission offsets, when applicable,exchange early action credits) equal to their yearly emissions. Aftertheir yearly emissions have been compared with the numbers in theschedule, those members that reduce emissions below these levels arerewarded and can sell or bank their excess CFIs or credits, while thosewith emissions above the reduction schedule are penalized, run up adebit and must purchase CFIs in order to achieve compliance. Debitsinclude required purchases of CFIs to meet the reduction schedule.

Advantageously, the emission reduction schedule is uniform and easilyunderstood. Its simplicity facilitates participation by a diverse rangeof businesses and other entities, thus increasing both the environmentaleffectiveness of the program and the potential for enrollment ofentities that are able to reduce emissions at low-cost. As shown inTable 1 below, the emission reduction objective declines 1% per year,and the cumulative four-year emission reduction relative baselineemission levels is 10% (1%+2%+3%+4%). This simple value facilitates easyanalysis of potential implications of participation as well as planningefforts. TABLE 1 Market Emission Reduction Schedule, Year ExchangeAllowance Allocations 2003 1% below participant's baseline 2004 2% belowparticipant's baseline 2005 3% below participant's baseline 2006 4%below participant's baseline

Each member is preferably allocated a four-year stream of emissionallowances. The registry 12 (or the registry 102 in the case of thesystem 100 of FIG. 3) employs a system that identifies the vintage ofeach instrument. The market monitors instrument transfers and holdingsand facilitates the oversight needed to enforce rules, such as therestrictions on banking and the single-firm sales limit.

FIG. 5 illustrates a graph of an exemplary emission baseline, reductionschedule, economic growth provision, and maximum mitigation quantities.The graph includes a dotted line horizontally across from 100% todesignate an emission baseline for a particular member. Each year goingforward, emission targets are reduced by a reduction schedule. The graphdepicts a yearly reduction schedule of 1% per year.

The graph of FIG. 5 also indicates that the maximum quantity of emissionmitigation required rises at a fixed rate over time. In an exemplaryembodiment, the market is configured such that the maximum amount of CO₂equivalent emissions recognized in determining the annual true-up foreach member is 2% above that participant's baseline emission levelduring year 1 and year 2, and 3% above baseline during year 3 and year4. As such, there is an established limitation on the risk exposurefaced by pilot market participants. Without such a provision, themaximum potential quantity of purchases of CFIs that each member mayface would be unknown. This mechanism allows potential participants toknow, in advance with certainty, the maximum quantity of purchases theymay have to undertake to achieve compliance with the annual emissionreduction commitments. This provision is referred to as the economicgrowth provision.

FIG. 6 illustrates a graph of an exemplary economic growth provision,maximum required purchases, and allowed sales quantities described withrespect to FIG. 5. For each instrument vintage, there is a maximumnumber of emission allowances that can be sold as well as a maximumnumber of emission allowances that must be bought. These restrictionsreflect the symmetric application of the economic growth provision.

Emissions levels can be unpredictable and are often influenced byfactors external to a business (e.g., weather, economic conditions,plant outages). The economic growth provision provides a measure ofinsulation against such uncertainties. This risk-reducing feature allowspotential members to establish better-informed estimates of the highestpossible financial exposure associated with participation. Thisincreased predictability is expected to result in greater participationin the voluntary market, thus yielding more environmental progress andhelping to advance market infrastructure while developing human capitalin greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading. The benefits of thisprovision are particularly important for entities facing rapid emissionsgrowth (e.g., due to population growth in their customer base).Development of tools for initiating GHG mitigation efforts in countrieswith rapid emissions growth, such as China and India, is recognized asone of the world's significant challenges in the long-term global effortto effectively counter the threats of global climate change.

At the same time, there is a limit applied to participants in the marketto allowed sales. In an exemplary embodiment, maximum recognizedemission reductions mirror the maximum required purchases. For example,sales are limited to 6% of baseline where required purchases are limitedto 6%.

Certain individual members may be in a position to sell large quantitiesof exchange allowances. Should any single member or small group ofmembers be allowed to sell without limit, the market could becomeimbalanced and subject to price congestion. Similarly, unrestrainedability to sell could cause a single-firm to achieve a dominant statusof the sell-side of the market, which would be damaging to marketcompetition. Thus, the quantity of sales any single firm can make isconstrained to avoid market imbalance, price congestion and potentialfor market dominance by a single seller or a small group of sellers ofexchange allowances. This provision is applied to all members that havebaseline emissions in excess of 100,000 metric tons CO₂ equivalent. Thisexception reflects the fact that unrestricted sales by small memberswould not cause undesirable market impacts, and that removal of suchconstraint increases the likelihood that the fixed costs of marketmembership can be more than offset from proceeds from sales of CFIs.

Net allowed sales by a single firm are preferably escalated ifprogram-wide emissions rise above baseline levels. The escalationmechanism reflects the extent to which program-wide emissions rise aboveprogram-wide baseline emission levels. For a particular vintage, eachmember is allowed to sell and/or bank the quantity of allowances that isthe lesser of the quantities determined by the symmetric economic growthprovision and the single firm sales limit. (In this context, allowedsales means the net sales by the member.) If for the first vintage year,the single firm sales limit is less than the quantity determined by thesymmetric economic growth provision, then the difference between thosetwo quantities is placed in a special reserve for possible futurerelease.

For subsequent vintages, each member is allowed to sell and/or bank thequantity that is the lesser of the quantities determined by the economicgrowth provision and the single firm sales limit. For these vintages,members may also bank the amount by which the quantity determined by theeconomic growth provision exceeds the single firm sales limit.

As such, market imbalance and price congestion that might arise ifmembers are allowed to carry forward large amounts of surplus exchangeallowances that may arise due to economic recession or other factors areavoided.

FIG. 7 illustrates the market as applied to multi-sector emissionsmonitoring, reporting, and auditing for emissions baselines and periodicemissions reports. Any of a number of market sectors, such as anelectric power sector 710, a manufacturing sector 720, an electric powerconsumption sector 730, and an oil and gas sector 740, can reportinformation to an emissions database 750 in the system 10 or the system100. For example, the electric power sector 710 can use a quantificationmethod of continuous emission monitors and/or fuel specific emissioncoefficients. The electric power sector 710 can also perform coaltesting for carbon content. Emissions information obtained using thesetypes of quantification methods is communicated to the emissionsdatabase 750.

The information received from sectors 710-740 by emissions database 750can be used by the market to make confirmations and adjustments to CFIsin an operation 760. NASD emissions audits 770 can be used in theoperation 760 to make these confirmations and adjustments. Final auditedemissions 780 can be used in a true up process described below withreference to FIG. 8.

Additional, fewer, or different sectors may be included in the marketbesides or in place of sectors 710-740. In an exemplary embodiment,members primarily engaged in electric power production include in theirbaseline and quarterly emission reports CO₂ emissions from all powergeneration facilities having a rated capacity of 25 megawatts or larger.These members may opt-in emissions from facilities having rated capacityless than 25 megawatts, but must include all such facilities if thisoption is chosen. Electric power generating units use CO₂ emissions datafrom continuous emission monitors (CEMs) as reported to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency. In other cases where CEM data is notavailable, such members quantify CO₂ emissions by using the fuelconsumption methods contained in government regulations.

These provisions represent adoption of specified rules for CO₂ emissionsmonitoring and facilities inclusion for participation by entitiesprimarily engaged in electric power generation in an organized GHGreduction and trading program. Advantageously, this provides amulti-sector GHG trading program for electric power generating plants.

Market electric power sector members may also opt-in SF₆ emissions fromelectric power transmission equipment. Emissions from such systems canbe quantified using protocols provided by the U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency. These members may also opt-in emissions from vehiclesthey own and operate or lease by using the protocols developed by theWorld Resources Institute/World Business Council for SustainableDevelopment (WRI/WBCSD) initiative. These provisions represent adoptionof specified rules for SF₆ emissions monitoring and facilities inclusionfor participation by entities primarily engaged in electric powergeneration in an organized GHG reduction and trading program.

Other members, including members in the forest products, chemicals,cement, manufacturing, and municipal sectors can report greenhouse gasemissions as follows. CO₂ emissions from stationary source fossil fuelcombustion can be quantified using the protocols developed by theWRI/WBCSD. Process emissions (e.g., N₂O, PFCs and CO₂) can be quantifiedusing applicable WRI/WBCSD protocols. CO₂ emissions from vehicles can beincluded in the member's baseline and quarterly emission reports ifthese emissions are greater than 5% of total entity-wide emissions andrepresent an integral part of the member's operations. Otherwise,members have the option to include emissions from vehicles in theirbaseline emissions and quarterly emission reports. Vehicle emissions canbe quantified using the WRI/WBCSD protocols.

Member sources not primarily engaged in the production of electricitymay opt-in purchased electricity (sector 730 in FIG. 7) as asupplemental reduction objective. When this option is elected, reductioncommitments for purchased electricity are identical to the marketemission reduction schedule (e.g., 1% below baseline in 2003, 2% belowbaseline in 2004, 3% below baseline in 2005, 4% below baseline in 2006).Members that elect this option receive greenhouse gas emissionallowances when the reduction objective is exceeded. When members opt-intheir electricity purchases and their electricity purchase reductionobjective is not achieved, the member must surrender greenhouse gasemission allowances and/or XOs.

The market can specify methods for monitoring emissions and creditallowance activities for a variety of sectors and activities. Members inthe forest products sector that have wood harvesting operations canquantify and report net changes in carbon stocks (expressed in metrictons of CO₂ equivalent) held in above-ground biomass on land owned bythe member or on land for which the member owns carbon sequestrationrights. Exchange allowances (XAs) can be issued on an annual basis tothese members in an amount reflecting net increases in stored carbonfrom the previous year. These allowances have the vintage of the year inwhich the increase in carbon storage occurred. These members surrenderXAs, XOs or XEs on an annual basis in an amount reflecting net decreasesin carbon stored in above-ground biomass.

Advantageously, the market participant base can be enlarged asadditional entities seek to enroll. Typically, members will includecorporations, industrial companies. municipalities, and other entitiesthat generate emissions of CO₂, SO₂ or other gases from facilities invarious neighboring countries, e.g., the United States, Canada, andMexico, and commit to an emission reduction schedule. Expansion,however, can be managed with a view to furthering the goals of theexchange and avoiding price congestion. New members can be bound to thesame terms and obligations as original members. Use of a standardized,proportional emissions reduction schedule simplifies the addition of newmembers as the emission reduction objective of each existing members isnot altered when new participants join the exchange. The capability ofpotential participants to join the exchange is continually changing asthe strategic benefits of joining are better appreciated, and as therequired skills base is expanded. Expansion of membership automaticallycauses an expansion of the trading opportunities for members and offsetproviders based on pre-set formulae.

In an exemplary embodiment, entities meeting the following conditionsmay become associate members: the entity does not have direct emissions;and the entity commits to the mitigation schedule or a mitigationobjective that goes beyond the schedule. Examples of associate membersinclude businesses, individuals, families, or other groups. Associatemembers can be subject to the same external audit of true-up that isconducted for members. Members and associate members can be groupedtogether as “voluntary greenhouse gas emission reducers” or participantsthat commit to an emission reduction schedule in an effort to reducepollution such as greenhouse gas emissions.

In certain embodiments, emissions numbers for associate members arecomputed based on the schemes described herein with respect to FIGS.15-17. Thus, the invention provides a simple yet effective method andsystem for calculating the emission numbers.

Additional entities that may participate in the system includeenvironmental benefactors and exchange participants. Environmentalbenefactors are participants that have not necessarily committed to anemission reduction schedule, but that act to prevent or removepollution. Environmental benefactors can be, for example, offsetproviders, liquidity providers and intermediaries that trade on thesystem but do not have an emission reduction schedule. Offset providersare entities such as project owners, project implementers, registeredaggregators, market makers and entities selling exchange offsetsproduced by qualifying registered offset projects. Liquidity providersare entities or individuals who trade on the exchange for reasons otherthan compliance with the emission reduction schedule. These includeentities such as market makers and proprietary trading groups. Exchangeparticipants are entities or natural persons that establish a registryaccount for the purpose of acquiring CFIs.

By allowing a broad range of entities to participate in the market,including entities that are not large industrial or energy concerns, themarket encourages broader adoption of greenhouse gas reductionobjectives, as well as the adoption of new and creative mitigationobjectives (e.g. entities may wish to become carbon neutral for“indirect” emissions associated with company travel on commercialairlines). Thus, a member that fails to achieve its reduction scheduleis not limited to purchasing its debits from just other members.Environmental benefactors may also provide the CFIs needed to removesuch debits from member accounts. For example, a forester or farmer isissued credits for participating in environmentally friendly activities,such as planting trees or removing pollutants from a stream. A memberwho exceeds its emissions level can purchase these credits from theforester or farmer to make up for its own emissions allowance shortfall.

An annual report of emission reductions may optionally, but preferably,be generated by the system. This aids in facilitating emissionsreduction and describes member performance, i.e., if the member has metits emission reduction schedule. The report may be published in, forexample, a member's report to its shareholders and distributed duringstockholder meetings, and used as a public relations tool in touting themember's environmentally conscious practices.

The system described herein provides a platform for members, associatemembers, and other participants to trade in CFIs and facilitates theirtrading. Participation in the present system is completely voluntary andprovides numerous incentives for market players to participate. Thesystem creates a market where secondary players can trade in and providevaluable commodities to other industry players in need.

Entities can contribute to mitigation of greenhouse gases by reducingelectricity purchases (e.g., through improved “end use” efficiency),reducing travel, or reducing CO₂ generating activities such as burningtrash or building campfires. Such entities are credited when thereduction objectives are exceeded, or are held responsible to purchaseCFIs reflecting mitigation elsewhere in the market if such standardizedreduction objectives are not achieved. The opt-in electricity purchaseprovision is described further below with respect to FIG. 10.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary true-up processutilized in the system 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 and/or thesystem 100 described with reference to FIG. 3. The true-up process caninvolve the following operations, additional operations, or feweroperations depending on the embodiment. Members of the market applyfacility and emissions monitoring rules to generate emissions data in anoperation 810. The emissions data is communicated to the market andstored in an emissions database in an operation 820.

In accordance with true-up procedures, members are provided with annualnotice of required instrument surrender quantities. Subsequent to eachcompliance year, each member must surrender any combination of exchangeallowances, exchange offsets and exchange early action credits in anamount equal to CO₂ equivalent emissions released from that member'sincluded facilities during the compliance year (subject to the economicgrowth provision described with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6 and constraintson the use of XOs and XEs). Compliance through the surrender of threedifferent forms of CFIs allows mitigation resources to flow to theirhighest-impact-per-dollar activity (e.g., emissions mitigation bymembers or by offset projects). It also makes operational therecognition and crediting of certain mitigation projects undertaken inadvance of program launch.

Members provide notification of the instrument types and vintages to beretired in fulfillment of compliance commitment to the registry in thesystem in an operation 830. Data contained in the registry can becommunicated to a retired CFIs archive in an operation 840. As such,members “true-up” or account for allowances, offsets, and otheremissions data. The market can also make adjustments in the allowedusage of offsets and early action credits based on the reportedemissions data for all of the members.

FIG. 9 illustrates offset project registration and reporting operationsin the system 10 (FIG. 1) and/or the system 100 (FIG. 3). Additional,fewer, or different operations can be performed depending on theparticular embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment, small projects 910,920, and 930 have less than 10,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year. Smallprojects 910, 920, and 930 are combined in an aggregator operation 940.

Eligible projects can be recorded in the registry and are issuedexchange offsets (XOs) on the basis of mitigation tonnage realizedduring a four year period. XOs can be issued after mitigation occurs andrequired documentation is presented to the market, or can be issuedconcurrently in anticipation of receipt of such documentation.

Offsets or credits are generated according to a predetermined scheduleof environmental friendly activities, such as by planting trees thatabsorb CO₂, by keeping carbon released by plants in the soil, or byremoving pollutants, such as CO, lead, NO₂, or ozone, from streams,lakes, landfills or other environmentally unfriendly areas. Indirectreductions of greenhouse gas emissions can be obtained by reducingreliance on the use of fossil fuels, such as by reducing business travelor by purchasing environmentally friendly products such as those made byprocesses that do not adversely affect the environment. A first categoryof participants who are eligible to be offset providers thereforeincludes foresters, farmers and others who prepare the land forfacilitating a reduction in CO₂ emissions. Types of entities that wouldlikely fall within a second category are law firms, advertisingagencies, banks, shopping centers, supermarkets, or other entities orlocations that include a large number of individuals.

A system for independent verification of qualifying offset projects ispreferably included. Independent verification provides a basis for thegrant of credits and allowances, and ensures that carbon sequestrationactivities are accounted for accurately. Independent verification may beperformed, for example, by an independently contracted party, or anyparty qualified to make such an assessment. Ideally, independentverification would occur at least every year before the true-up process.

Other eligible offset project categories include landfill methanedestruction in North America; agricultural methane destruction in NorthAmerica; carbon sequestration in North America reforestation projects;carbon sequestration in U.S. agricultural soils; and fuel switching,landfill methane destruction, renewable energy and forestry projects inBrazil, recycling, alternative travel, and other environmentallyharmonious activities. For offset project types that have uncertainmitigation effectiveness, standardization of tradable offset quantitiesis achieved by applying discount factors so that members can have highconfidence that a particular activity is defined so that each metric tonof CO₂ mitigated by each project is equivalent.

As shown in FIG. 9, a minimum amount of exchange offsets (XO) issuanceto any project or group of projects in any single category can be set at10,000 tons CO₂ equivalent per year (as an example). Individual projectsthat achieve mitigation quantities of less that 10,000 tons CO₂equivalent per year are combined with other projects within the sameproject category by a market registered project aggregator. As such,trading can occur in quantities less than 10,000 tons.

The market can use the 10,000-ton threshold rule as a standard thatestablishes an offset pool scale allowing for economically efficientadministration of the project enrollment, verification and offsetissuance process. This provision allows low-cost mitigation actions tosupply the market with reductions while also providing a source offunding for the implementation of such projects.

In the aggregator operation 940, the projects 910, 920, and 930 areexamined to determine various features, such as, project eligibilitybased on type, location, and timing; whether contracts and/orattestations are properly executed; and estimated annual tonnage ofoffsets produced. Other examined features can include time commitmentsand property descriptions of sequestration projects, annual reportacknowledgment, verifier access acknowledgment, entity name andfacility, and management issues. The project-aggregation process ofoperation 940 allows multiple small projects to participate in themarket without forcing the exchange or market participants to incur highadministrative costs.

In an operation 950, the aggregation of small projects 910, 920, and 930or a large project 970 are subject to a registration and reportingprocess. An exemplary registration and reporting process includesestablishing an account file, establishing a registry account, receivingproject reports, defining eligible project verifiers, receiving projectverification reports from verifiers, receiving NASD reports onverifiers, and issuing offsets to accounts.

In another embodiment, carbon sequestration reserve pools areestablished to hold back a portion of earned offsets from projectaggregators. These reserve pools provide a readily accessible pool ofoffsets that can be immediately cancelled if carbon stored in a creditedsequestration project is later released to the atmosphere.

FIG. 10 illustrates a crediting mechanism for methane combustion. Amethane (CH₄) source 1010 can be a landfill or agricultural waste, forexample. Methane can have twenty-one times more environmental impactthan CO₂. It is possible, however, to burn the methane using acombustion device 1015. The burning converts the methane to CO₂ whilecreating electric power from an electric power generator 1020. Theburning of methane releases 2.75 tons of CO₂ for every one ton ofmethane. As such, the net equivalent emission reduction from burningmethane is 18.25 metric tons of CO₂. Thus, an exchange landfill offset(XLO) can be issued in the market.

To account for offset projects efficiently and accurately, two types ofaccounting procedures may be used. The carbon-stable accounting approachmay be used by members or participants who, for example, practiceconservation soil tillage or are in commercial forestry sector, toquantify changes in carbon stocks on its commercial land. A member orparticipant electing to use this approach must obtain reputablethird-party verification that its commercial land is managed in asustainable fashion and provide a warranty that there will be no netdecrease in overall carbon stocks on that land. In the commercialforestry sector, a member or participant in the United States mayquantify and report changes in carbon stocks associated withindividually registered exchange forestry offset projects on thecondition that that there is no net decrease in overall carbon stocks inthe member or participant's commercial forest inventory.

Each member or participant in the commercial forestry sector electing touse the carbon-stable accounting approach will additionally be requiredto annually submit evidence that it has maintained certification ofsustainable forest management and shall provide annual certification,signed by a corporate officer, that there will be no net decrease inoverall carbon stocks held in the member or participant's commercialforestry inventory. The statement that there is no decrease in overallcarbon stocks held in a member or participant's commercial forestryinventory is subject to independent verification and audit.

The model-based accounting approach can be used by a member orparticipant from, for example, the commercial forestry sector, toquantify changes in carbon stocks on its commercial forestry land on thebasis of projections made by growth and yield models, which estimate thevolume of above-ground biomass of different species of trees as thetrees grow. Each member or participant that elects to use themodel-based accounting approach will be issued exchange allowances ordebited CFIs on the basis of annual increases or decreases respectivelyin carbon stocks in its commercial inventory.

Net changes in carbon stocks will be quantified only on the basis of thewood in the main stem of the tree up to the terminal bud, excludingcarbon sequestered in root systems and the branches. Quantifications ofcarbon stocks reduced through harvest will also include only the mainstem of the tree.

In cases of adverse weather events or outbreaks of fire and pest damagethat do not reduce the quantity of carbon stocks on a parcel of forestedland, the member or participant is required to document the quantity oftimber destroyed by the fire, pest or adverse weather and surrender anequivalent amount of CFIs. The member or participant is required tocontinue to quantify and report subsequent increases and decreases incarbon stocks on that land and shall be issued and must surrender CFIsaccordingly.

A market member 1030 can purchase electric power from the electric powergenerator 1020 as an emission reduction objective. The market member1030 is selecting power in a way that returns “green power crediting”with the market. In an exemplary embodiment, landfill methane collectionand combustion systems placed into operation can be issued exchangelandfill offsets on the basis of tons of methane destroyed, net of CO₂released upon combustion, during the years 2003 through 2006, forexample. Benchmarks for methane reduction help remove uncertainty overwhich landfill gas projects can receive offsets, and at what rate andhelp ensure there is proper accounting so that electricity produced bycombustion of landfill gas can be properly treated as CO₂ “neutral”(i.e., having no net GHG emissions associated with its production). Assuch, the benchmarks provide predictability and clarity in relation todetermining if a landfill gas collection system qualifies to earn GHGoffsets.

The use of the 18.25 metric ton net offset issuance rule (for each tonof methane combusted) accounts for the net-of-CO₂ GHG benefit fromcombusting landfill methane. This rule concomitantly establishes thatelectric power produced by combustion of landfill gas is CO₂-neutral asthe CO₂ released upon combustion is netted-out in the offset issuancecalculation. This characteristic thus establishes a complete andaccurate accounting process that allows such purchased electricity to beconsidered “zero emissions.”

The market allows electricity users to elect to include electricitypurchases as a supplemental reduction commitment. If a market memberthat elects this option reduces it electricity purchases to a level thatis below its targeted reduction, the member is issued 0.61 tradableemission allowances for each megawatt-hour by which the member's actualelectricity purchases fall below the reduction target. This is a simpleconversion that does not require complex calculations to determine theallowance or credit. Simultaneously, the generator of such electricityalso realizes an emission reduction (all else constant) as a result ofreduced electricity demand on the part of the member. This reduction inemissions at the electric power plant can have the effect of freeing-upan emission allowances for sale. As such, this feature introduces thepossibility that a single ton of actual emission reductions may resultin the release into the market system of two tons worth of rights toemit CO₂, and the ownership of such rights is equally shared between theelectricity user and the electricity generator. This pre-establishedequal sharing provides a standard formula that eliminates the need tonegotiate the sharing of emission reduction rights associated withreduced electricity consumption.

The opt-in electricity purchase provision establishes a mechanism thatemploys standardized reduction schedule for end-use of electricity as asupplemental mitigation objective that can be elected by members. Thisprovision also establishes a known, predictable quantity by which excess(or insufficient) electric power reductions are issued (or mustsurrender) greenhouse gas emission allowances. This predictabilityfacilitates participation in this mitigation option and may stimulateadoption of electricity reduction technologies as the financial returnsto such technologies are enhanced by the ability to earn marketablegreenhouse gas emission allowances in the market.

The baseline electricity purchase quantity can be defined as the averageof electricity purchases during previous years, such as 1998 through2001. The baseline can be adjusted to reflect acquisition or dispositionof facilities that consumed power purchased by the member. Thedefinition of the electricity purchase baseline also contains rulesgoverning inclusion of facilities; specifications for defining emissions“ownership” at jointly-owned facilities; and rules for addressing gapsin the baseline period electricity purchase data.

In an exemplary embodiment, members that opt-in U.S. electricitypurchases and reduce their electricity purchases to levels below thequantity corresponding to the market reduction schedule are issuedgreenhouse gas emission allowances at a rate of 0.61 metric tons CO₂ foreach megawatt-hour by which actual power purchased is below thereduction schedule. The 0.61 metric ton rate is applied only toelectricity purchased by U.S. facilities as it reflects the U.S. averageemission rate for electricity production during 1998-2001. Preferably,that opt-in electricity purchases and realize electricity purchases inan amount that is above the quantity corresponding to the marketreduction schedule surrender greenhouse gas emission allowances and/orexchange offsets at a rate of 0.61 metric tons CO₂ for eachmegawatt-hour by which actual power purchased is above the reductionschedule. The corresponding standard values for electricity purchases inCanada and Mexico are 0.20 and 0.59 metric tons per megawatt-hour,respectively.

By setting a single, stable value of the crediting reductions in GHGemissions associated with each megawatt-hour of purchased electricity,the market provides a standardized reference value that makes itcomparatively simple for large numbers of electricity users toparticipate in GHG mitigation and be rewarded at a known, predictablerate. The members who elect this option know in advance precisely howmany tons of CO₂ emission allowances they receive (or must surrender) ifthey can surpass (or fail to achieve) the standardized reductionschedule.

This standardized, predictable system enhances the ability to test theelectricity reduction commitment mechanism. By doing this, the provisionallows a much broader range of entities to participate in GHGmitigation, even if they do not directly release significant amounts ofGHGs through their own combustion of fuels or industrial processes. Thismechanism provides a standard system whereby large commercial buildings(e.g., office buildings, shopping malls, government buildings,electricity-intensive manufacturing operations, and, conceivably, groupsof small commercial utilities and households), can participate in a GHGreduction and trading program.

Another exemplary embodiment includes a method for integrating renewableenergy certificates (RECs) markets into a greenhouse gas emissionstrading market. The RECs markets are emerging in various states,provinces and countries as a means for cost-effectively increasing thequantity of electric power produced through environmentally preferablemethods. Laws in multiple states (e.g., Texas and Nevada) requireincreasing amounts of electricity to be generated using low orzero-emission systems, such as wind energy. The RECs laws typically seta quantified overall objective (e.g. 5% of all electricity productionfor the year 2003) for renewable energy production and allows those whoproduce electricity from renewable energy systems in an amount above themandated level to earn tradable certificates indicating they haveexceeded the regulatory goal. If another electricity producer cannotachieve the legislated objective it can remain in compliance with thelegislated mandate by acquiring RECs from the electricity producer thatexceeded the legislated mandate. For example, the legislative mandatecould require Company A and Company B to each to produce 1,000megawatt-hours of electricity using specified renewable energy systems.If Company A in fact produces 1,200 megawatt-hours of electricity usingrenewable systems, it would earn 200 megawatt-hours worth of RECs. IfCompany B produces 800 megawatt-hours of electricity using renewablesystems, it must acquire 200 megawatt-hours worth of RECs to achievecompliance with the legislative mandate (by producing 800 mw ofrenewable energy on its own and by acquiring 200 mw worth of RECs todemonstrate ownership of the other 200 mw of renewable energyproduction).

The market can allow its members to include electricity purchases as asupplemental reduction objective. For example, the market rules canprovide the following: “Electricity produced using specified renewableenergy sources can be treated as zero emission electricity by a Memberthat elects to opt-in electricity purchases. Each Member that elects toopt-in electricity purchases may exclude from its Electricity PurchasesBaseline and Periodic Electricity Purchase Reports electricity acquiredfrom market-specified Renewable Electricity Production Systems, providedthe Member provides documentary evidence that the electricity isproduced solely for the Member or is otherwise dedicated to the Member.Electricity produced by the following Renewable Electricity ProductionSystems shall qualify under this provision: solar; hydropower; wind;renewable fuels, which, for purposes of market are: wood, wood wastesand wood-derived fuels; agricultural residues and grasses; landfill andagricultural methane; and ethanol (bioalcohol). Documentary evidencethat electricity is produced solely for the Member or is otherwisededicated to the Member can consist of copies of power plant ownershipdocuments, power purchase contracts, and, as specified by the MarketExecutive Committee, certain renewable energy certificates.”

By allowing members to use renewable energy certificates as a means ofdocumenting that a portion of their electricity purchases are acquiredfrom renewable energy systems, the market explicitly introduces alinkage between the greenhouse gas and RECs markets. This introduces anadditional source of flexibility to members to achieve the electricitypurchase reduction commitments via a systemic increase in production ofelectricity by renewable energy systems as evidenced by the Member'sacquisition and presentation to the market of RECs. Incorporating thismechanism into the market architecture also provides another potentialsource of financing for new electricity production systems based onrenewable energy sources.

Consistent with the economic growth provision described with referenceto FIGS. 5 and 6, the maximum recognized increase in purchased power is,for example, 2% above baseline in 2003 and 2004, and 3% above baselinein 2005 and 2006. Without the economic growth provision limiting maximumrequired purchases, the maximum liability associated with participationin the market would be unknown. This mechanism allows potentialparticipants to know, in advance with certainty, the maximum quantity ofallowances they may have to purchase to achieve compliance with theannual electricity purchase reduction commitments, as well as themaximum quantity of sales of emission allowances they may be able toundertake.

Uncertainty as to how and how much to credit reduction in electric powerpurchases impedes adoption of reduction objectives and the end-useefficiency technologies and management methods that can contribute tomitigation of GHG emissions. By adopting standard greenhouse gasemission allowance quantities for reductions in electricity purchases inthe U.S., Canada and Mexico, the market encourages participation in thismechanism and broadens the base of entities that can contribute to GHGmitigation via reductions in electricity purchases.

Members are responsible for emissions from jointly owned facilities inproportion to the member's ownership equity share, subject to thefollowing exceptions. Members not primarily engaged in electric powerproduction have the option to exclude from their emissions baseline andemission reports emissions from facilities in which the member's equityownership share is less than 20%. Exceptions can be made on acase-by-case basis if a member's ownership share is less than 50% andemissions data from the jointly owned facility is not accessible to themember.

Entities primarily engaged in electric power production have the optionto exclude from their emissions baseline and emission reports emissionsfrom facilities in which the member's equity ownership share is bothless than 20% and represents less than 25 megawatts of generatingcapacity.

Many large industrial and energy facilities are owned by multipleentities. These multiple owners often jointly invest in a facility as ameans of spreading financial risk or exploiting the special businesscapabilities or locational advantage provided by one of the jointowners. The specific provisions for apportioning GHG emissions in themarket for jointly owned facilities takes into consideration: the logicof employing a pro rata ownership approach; the desire to include alarge proportion of each firms emissions, the importance of includingmajor emission sources as a primary objective; the reality that minorityowners of a facility may not have ready access to operational dataneeded to calculate emissions of a facility.

At the same time, by implicitly allowing a member to opt-in emissionsfrom facilities in which it owns a relatively small equity share, theseprovisions encourage members to examine the possibility that suchfacilities may offer low-cost emission reductions. This flexibilityencourages members to identify such low cost GHG reduction options,realize them and bring them into the market, which would enhance theoverall cost effectiveness of the GHG emission reductions achievedthrough the market.

Each exchange member can be allowed annually to exempt a quantity ofemissions that is equivalent to the emissions of a 500 megawatt capacitynatural gas combined cycle electricity generating plant operated at 55%of capacity and having a heat rate of 7,000 btu/mwh. The exemptemissions cannot exceed emissions from the new facility or facilities.All new unit emissions above this level are included as part of themember's annual emissions. As such, members who build new facilities arenot penalized in light of the fact that new facilities are typicallymore efficient (i.e. emit less GHG per unit of electricity produced)than existing facilities.

This provision reflects both an environmental rationale and a practicalequity consideration. Development of new, higher-efficiency productionfacilities offers a means of fulfilling demand for products whileproducing less GHG emissions per unit of production. In addition,members may have been constructing such plants prior to the initiationof the market design phase. This provision establishes a limitedexemption for emissions from new facilities, thereby removing orreducing the penalty that might have been in place if emissions fromsuch facilities were required to be mitigated under the market rules.

FIG. 11 illustrates a graph depicting exchange forestry offsets (XFOs)based on carbon storage. Similar to methane combustion projects,qualifying reforestation and afforestation projects can be issuedExchange Forestry Offsets on the basis of increases in tons of CO₂equivalent of carbon storage realized. Project eligibility, projectbaselines, quantification, monitoring and verification protocols can bespecified using the market. In the graph, XFOs of +1 are earned eachyear as end of year carbon stocks increase.

FIG. 12 illustrates a map of agricultural soil offsets based ongeographic region. Offset issuance quantities for agricultural soil canstandardize participation of GHG emissions mitigation via soil carbonsequestration. Soil carbon sequestration is realized when farmers orother individuals do not significantly disturb the soil surface throughtillage and release carbon accumulated therein. In an exemplaryembodiment, certified soil offsets can be issued annually foragricultural soil carbon sequestration activities in designated states,counties and parishes in the U.S. Midwest and Mississippi Delta regions.As an example, Exchange Soil Offsets can be issued at a rate of 0.5metric tons CO₂ per acre per year in cases where farmers commit toqualifying continuous no-till or low-till in the designated locations.Exchange Soil Offsets can be issued at a rate of 0.75 metric tons CO₂per acre per year in cases where farmers commit to maintainsequestration associated with grass plantings in the designatedlocations.

The market allows for the cost-effective incorporation of carbonsequestration by a large number of agricultural producers despiteuncertain site-specific sequestration rates and high costs of measuringsoil carbon changes.

FIG. 13 illustrates the issuance of greenhouse gas emission allowancesupon increases in qualifying carbon stocks by members of the market inthe forest products sector. A graph 1310 depicts yearly carbon stockchanges. The graph 1310 shows growth of carbon stock in 2003 as 10metric tons CO₂ and harvest and other losses as 8 metric tons CO₂. Assuch, there is a +2 ton net change and XAs are issued to the member.

A graph 1320 shows growth of carbon stock in a particular year to be 8metric tons CO₂ and harvest and other losses as 11 metric tons CO₂. Inthis case, the member is liable for a −3 net change and must surrender 3tons of CFIs.

Quantification of changes in carbon stocks held in above-ground biomassare based on standardized models and sampling procedures to be used byall members in the forest products sector. The calculation of changes incarbon stocks can be adjusted to reflect acquisition or disposition offorest land.

In an exemplary embodiment, the maximum amount of net reductions incarbon stored in above-ground biomass on company land recognized islimited to 3% of each member's emission baseline during a first year,such as 2003, 4% of its baseline during 2004, 6% of its baseline during2005 and 7% of its baseline during 2006. The maximum recognized quantityof net increases in carbon stored in above-ground biomass is limited to3% of the member's emission baseline during a first year, such as 2003,4% of its baseline during 2004, 6% of its baseline during 2005 and 7% ofits baseline during 2006. Net sales and banking of Exchange Allowancesby members are also subject to limits described below.

Increased carbon sequestration associated with changes in carbon stocksdue to forest management activities offer an important GHG mitigationoption and should be recognized and credited (or debited if such changescause a reduction in stored carbon). Preferably, greenhouse gas emissionallowances are issued in an amount reflecting net increases in storedcarbon during the 1-4 years time period. These members must surrenderXAs, XOs or XEs on an annual basis in an amount reflecting net decreasesin stored carbon during the four year time period. The calculation ofchanges in carbon stocks can be adjusted to reflect acquisition ordisposition of forest land.

FIG. 14 illustrates an offset project verification process. Additional,fewer, or different operations can be performed in the process,depending on the particular embodiment. In an operation 1410, NASDaudits can be performed using protocols. Independent measurement andverification can be performed in an operation 1415 on reforestration andmethane combustion projects 1420.

In an operation 1425, independent verification is performed on soilcarbon projects 1430 that contracted practices are undertaken. Areference value can be assigned in operation 1435. The offset projecttonnage can be confirmed and deficiencies reported in an operation 1440.Confirmed offsets are communicated to registry accounts of individualprojects and aggregators in an operation 1445.

The market can specify project eligibility, project baselines,quantification, monitoring and verification protocols. This featurehelps to satisfy the need for a predictable, low transaction costprotocol that provides to farmers, in advance of their decision tocommit to a contract to provide carbon sequestration services, preciseinformation on the quantity of offsets they earn per acre per year foreligible soil carbon sequestration practices.

By way of another example, Exchange Emission Reductions can be issued toqualifying projects undertaken in Brazil or other countries. Qualifyingprojects include: reforestation and/or assisted forest regeneration;avoided deforestation together with reforestation and/or assisted forestregeneration; fuel switching; landfill methane destruction; andrenewable energy generation from solar, wind, small hydroelectric andbiomass systems.

Exchange Early Action Credits (XEs) can be issued to certain projectspreviously undertaken. To qualify, projects must be: off-system;originally undertaken or financed by members; direct emissionsreductions or involve sequestration; clearly owned by the members;measured; and verifiable. By establishing specifications for thisprovision, it is possible to define which actions undertaken beforeactivation of its GHG market are eligible to earn early action credits.This standard is of particular value as many legislative proposalsworldwide that propose GHG limits have recognized the importance (interms of equity and provision of incentives to act early) of includingan early-action crediting provision.

By way of example, Exchange Early Action Credits can be given to thefollowing project types that meet the eligibility criteria:reforestation, afforestation and avoided deforestation; landfill methanedestruction in the U.S.; fuel switching and other energy relatedU.S.I.J.I. projects. Exchange Early Action Credits are issued on thebasis of mitigation tonnage realized by the qualifying project.

Numerous legislative proposals in the U.S. and elsewhere have proposedthe general concept of crediting “early action”. The rationale for thisconcept is to encourage early action to mitigate GHGs by removing anincentive to postpone action. It is sometimes argued that entities thatcould reduce GHG emissions in the near-term in fact refrain from doingso because they would lose the opportunity to be credited for suchreductions if they are realized prior to enactment of legislation orother actions that cause the emergence of a GHG reduction and tradingsystem. By establishing precedent that demonstrates that “early” actioncan be effectively credited in an organized GHG reduction and tradingsystem, this provision may stimulate GHG mitigation actions that mightotherwise be postponed or never undertaken.

A limited number of market constraints are employed in order to assurethat emission mitigation under the market reflects a balance of emissionreductions at member facilities and reductions from off-system projects,and to prevent market instability and price congestion. The market doesnot endorse the imposition of limits on trading or on the use of offsetsin large scale GHG trading systems that may emerge a market created bygovernment regulation.

Net sales of Exchange Allowances by any single member are limited to0.5% of the program-wide emissions baseline, apportioned over 2003-2006according to the schedule in Table 2 below. TABLE 2 Net ExchangeAllowance (XA) sales limit: percent of program-wide baseline emissionsthat can be sold by a XA Vintage single firm for each XA vintage 20030.05% 2004 0.10% 2005 0.15% 2006 0.20% Total: 0.50% of program-widebaseline emissions

In an exemplary embodiment, the market can include “super reductions”which can be sold to non-members that may seek to purchase emissionreductions that are registered in the context of a rules-based program.These “super reductions” reflect cases where members reduce emissionsbeyond the maximum reductions recognized as tradable, as per marketrules. Additionally, “super reductions” may be usable in pilot marketsthat may be established subsequent to 2006.

By way of example, during a first year, program-wide use for complianceof Exchange Emission Offsets is allowed in an amount equal to 0.5% ofthe total program-wide baseline emissions. Exchange Early Action Creditsmay be used for compliance starting in a second year. During subsequentyears after the first year, program-wide use of Exchange EmissionOffsets plus Exchange Early Action Credits is allowed in an amount equalto 4.5% of the total program-wide baseline emissions. As such,limitations on the use of Exchange Offsets plus Early Action Credits areadjusted in a predictable manner, and in proportion to expansion of themarket due to new entrants (and contraction due to disposition ofemission sources by members).

Such a provision assures that the majority of GHG mitigation in themarket occurs at member facilities, maintaining market balance,diversity and environmental credibility while allowing development anduse of project-based offsets and implementing a method for creditingearly action. By limiting the allowed use of Exchange Emission Offsetsplus Exchange Early Action Credits, this provision establishes that atleast half of the overall GHG mitigation realized by member must comefrom reductions in the emissions released by their own facilities.

By limiting the proportion of CFIs produced by prior emission mitigationprojects used in compliance in the market to no more than 25% of theprogram-wide emission reduction, the market effectively requires that75% of the reductions come from mitigation actions that occurconcurrently or in the future, (or occurred recently e.g. via mitigationprojects occurring after a certain date). This provision also helps tomaintain market balance and diversity of mitigation efforts.

The total program-wide quantity of Exchange Early Action Credits usedfor compliance during years subsequent to the first year preferably doesnot exceed 50% of the total quantity of Exchange Offsets plus ExchangeEarly Action Credits used for compliance. Total allowed use forcompliance of Exchange Offsets during the first year, and ExchangeEmission Offsets plus Exchange Early Action Credits during subsequentyears are escalated if program-wide emissions rise above baselinelevels. The proportional escalation mechanism reflects the extent towhich program-wide emissions exceed program-wide baseline emissionlevels. Advantageously, this mechanism establishes a formulaicpredictable process that automatically loosens market efficiencyprovisions as demand rises.

For each member, total net sales plus use for compliance of ExchangeOffsets (e.g. Landfill Offsets) produced by facilities that it ownsand/or operates are allowed in an amount equal to no more than 0.5% ofthe total program-wide baseline emissions, apportioned over certainyears. By way of example, limits can be as indicated in Table 3. TABLE 3Total net sales plus use for compliance of XOs generated from member'sowned and operated XO Vintage facilities, by XO vintage 2003 0.05% 20040.10% 2005 0.15% 2006 0.20% Total: 0.50% of program-wide baselineemissions

Such a feature avoids market imbalance, price congestion and potentialfor market dominance by a single seller of Exchange Offsets or a smallgroup of sellers by constraining the quantity of sales any single firmcan make. Certain individual members may be in a position to sell largequantities of Exchange Offsets. As is the case with any limited-scaleand limited-coverage market, should any single member or small group ofmembers be allowed to sell without limit, the market could becomeimbalanced and subject to price congestion. Similarly, unrestrainedability to sell could cause a single-firm to achieve a dominant statusof the sell-side of the market, which would be damaging to marketcompetition.

Allowed sales plus use for compliance by a single member under thisprovision can be escalated proportionately if program-wide emissionsrise above baseline levels. The escalation mechanism reflects the extentto which program-wide emissions exceed program-wide emission baselinelevels. Advantageously, this mechanism establishes a formulaicpredictable process that automatically loosens market efficiencyprovisions as demand rises.

By way of summary, system 10 (FIG. 1) and/or system 100 (FIG. 3) (again,collectively referred to herein as “the market”) provide an electronicmechanism for hosting greenhouse gas commodity trading. It providesparticipants with a central location that facilitates trading, publiclyreveals price information, and contributes to the broad objectives ofthe emission reduction plan. The market reduces the cost of locatingtrading counterparties and finalizing trades, an important benefit in anew market. The market may also be used as the platform for conductingthe periodic auctions. The market could host trading in standardizedcontracts that, for example, provide a uniform trade size, pricing termsand payment requirements. The market may have the following corefeatures: low cost to users; easy-to-use for participants, allow forreal-time trading and price information, and readily interface with theregistry accounts of participants in the commodity market.

The market overcomes many of the shortcomings and disadvantages ofconventional emissions trading programs. For example, the absence of acomplete, standardized system for defining and trading greenhouse gasreductions introduces high transaction costs and impedes the widespreadinitiation of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions among private,non-profit and public sector entities. The market provides a method forgreenhouse gas reduction through a commodity based trading program.Unlike ad hoc or unstandardized emissions trading programs, the marketprovides a commodity-based exchange that facilitates capital flows toenvironmental protection by employing a central electronic tradingmechanism coupled with a means of guaranteeing receipt of payment anddelivery of traded Carbon Financial Instruments even if a counter-partyfails to perform.

Another shortcoming of conventional systems is how to facilitateparticipation in greenhouse gas reduction efforts by multiple sectors inmultiple countries, thus advancing environmental progress and enhancingthe prospects for cost effectiveness by allowing reductions to occur ina wide range of organizations.

The standardized emission reduction schedule applied in the cappedtrading system described herein establishes a common, proportionatesystem under which all exchange members know both their emissionreduction objectives and the maximum liability they may face in meetingsuch objectives.

Another shortcoming of conventional systems is the lack of common rules,standards, protocols and methods which impedes large-scale participationin GHG mitigation efforts and limits the ability to realize mitigationat low cost. Preferably, the market includes a structured market designand standardized environmental objective that allows numerousparticipants to mitigate greenhouse gases on a common schedule. Thisreduces transaction costs and facilitates broader action and ease oftransacting and introduces a mechanism for allowing efficient flow offinancial resources to the mitigation of greenhouse gases.

Use of a standardized, proportional emissions reduction schedulesimplifies addition of new members as the emission reduction objectiveof each existing member is not altered when new participants join theexchange. The capability of potential participants to join the exchangeis continually changing as the strategic benefits of joining are betterappreciated, and as the required skills base is expanded. Starting witha limited-scale pilot market allows for near-term demonstration of theexchange. In addition, the ability to test and refine methods andsystems is enhanced by having limited scale.

Expansion of membership automatically causes an expansion of the tradingopportunities for members and offset providers based on pre-setformulae, while also providing the mechanisms to maintain marketbalance.

Unlike any other existing emissions trading program, use of a “live,”electronic trading platform allows members and participants tocontinuously view bids, offers and transaction prices and volumes.Continuous price discovery enhances the ability of members to identifythe least-cost methods for achieving compliance with the reductioncommitments. Advantageously, public price discovery informs thedevelopment of private and legislative actions to mitigate greenhousegases. Currently, there is no systematic method for making public pricesfrom greenhouse gas emission reduction trades. Thus, the formation ofprivate and legislative actions suffers from the absence of criticalinformation needed to establish economically rational actions. Withoutprice information, the ability to develop GHG reduction action plans isimpeded because cost-benefit analysis is conducted with severely limitedinformation on mitigation costs.

Lack of a common, rules based framework in conventional systems impedeseconomically efficient use of emission mitigation resources. The marketembodied in the system 10 and/or the system 100 allows flexibility inthe methods, location and timing of emission reductions so thatgreenhouse gas emissions can be reduced cost effectively.

With conventional systems, the action to cut and trade greenhouse gasesis greatly impeded by high transaction costs. System 10 and/or system100 facilitates trading with low transaction costs. A rules-basedprogram, a central trading platform, delivery and payment guarantees andlow transaction costs implemented in system 10 and/or system 100 greatlyreduce the impediments to trading, thus allowing all market participantsto exploit the opportunity to realize economic gains from trading. Suchfeatures help assure that greenhouse gas emission reductions are bothundertaken more broadly and are realized at the lowest possible cost.

This detailed description outlines exemplary embodiments of an emissionsreduction and trading system and method. In the foregoing description,for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itis evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the exemplaryembodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to facilitate description of the exemplary embodiments.

Systems can be included within the market for performing a variety offunctions. For example, a system can be included to designate individualemployees of market members, associate members, and participant membersas authorized traders of such members. Another system can be included toscreen all entities that desire to become market members, associatemembers, and participant members on the basis of financial standing andbusiness stability. Yet another system allows traders to elect toutilize market provided trade negotiation and clearing mechanisms or,alternatively, to negotiate trades in a private, bilateral fashion.

Advantageously, the systems and methods described here enable thecreation and operation of a greenhouse gas emissions market with reducedtransaction costs. The minimization of transactions costs may be aresult of one or more of a variety of different factors. These factorsinclude the standardizing of definitions of included emissions andopt-in provisions; allocating ownership of emissions in cases of jointlyowned facilities; defining emission baselines; defining tradable CarbonFinancial Instruments; defining Early Action Credits; emissionsmonitoring methods; offset project definitions (including formulae) andsizes and aggregation; market constraints; the registry; the tradingplatform; and the clearing system.

In some embodiments, a computer system is used for the implementation ofthese systems and markets which has a central processing unit (CPU) thatexecutes sequences of instructions contained in a memory. Morespecifically, execution of the sequences of instructions causes the CPUto perform steps, which are described below. The instructions may beloaded into a random access memory (RAM) for execution by the CPU from aread-only memory (ROM), a mass storage device, or some other persistentstorage. In other embodiments, hardwired circuitry may be used in placeof, or in combination with, software instructions to implement thefunctions described. Thus, the embodiments described herein are notlimited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software,nor to any particular source for the instructions executed by thecomputer system.

FIG. 15 schematically illustrates another exemplary embodiment of anemissions reduction trading system. As shown in FIG. 15, the illustratedsystem 1500 includes one or more client digital data processing devices1506 (“client”), one or more server digital data processing devices 1510(“server”), and one or more databases 1534. The client 1506, the server1510, and the database 1534 communicate using one or more datacommunications networks 1512 (“networks”). In FIG. 15, the features in adigital data processing device are shown as residing in the client 1506.Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that one or more ofthe features of the client 1506 can be present in the server 1510.

As described further herein, the emissions reduction trading system 1500can compute emissions numbers (i.e., amounts of GHG emissions oremission reduction equivalents), compliance CFIs, and/or other relatedparameters for members and associate members (collectively referred tohereinafter as “members”) based on the members' consumption of energysources. Additionally, the emissions reduction system 1500 canadminister the guarantee mechanism (e.g., 16 in FIG. 1), the tradinghost/platform (e.g., 18 in FIG. 1), the clearing system (e.g., 106 inFIG. 3), and the other mechanisms and systems previously describedherein with respect to FIGS. 1-14.

Generally, references herein to a “client” and a “server” are used todifferentiate two communicating devices and/or sets of processorinstructions. References herein to a client and/or a server can thus beunderstood to be references to communications originating from a clientand/or a server as these terms are understood by those of ordinary skillin the art. Such communications can be based on or otherwise initiatedfrom one or more input devices (e.g., a keyboard, a stylus, a mouse,etc.) controlled by a user. Also, references herein to a client and/or aserver can thus be understood to include one or moreprocessor-controlled devices that act in a client-server (i.e.,request-response) model, in which the client and the server can resideon the same processor-controlled device, and in which, based onperspective, the client can act as a server, and the server can act as aclient.

As shown in the system 1500 of FIG. 15, a user 1502 (e.g., a member orenvironmental benefactor) desiring to compute GHG emissions or emissionreduction equivalents can execute one or more software applicationprograms 1504 (such as, for example, an Internet browser and/or anothertype of application program capable of providing an interface to a GHGemissions computation program) residing on the client 1506 to generatedata messages that are routed to, and/or receive data messages generatedby, one or more software application programs 1508 (e.g., a GHGemissions or emission reduction equivalents computation program)residing on the server 1510 via the network 1512. A data messageincludes one or more data packets, and the data packets can includecontrol information (e.g., addresses of the clients and the servers1506, 1510, names/identifiers of the software application programs 1504,1508, etc.) and payload data (e.g., data relevant to compute GHGemissions, such as a request 1548 that includes consumption data andoutput data 1562 that includes the thusly computed GHG emissions).

The software application programs 1504 include one or more softwareprocesses (e.g., a calculation process/engine) executing within one ormore memories 1518 of the client 1506. Similarly, the softwareapplication programs 1508 include one or more software processesexecuting within one or more memories of the server 1510. The softwareapplication programs 1508 include one or more sets of instructionsand/or other features that enable the server 1510 to compute GHGemissions or emission reduction equivalents, compliance CFIs, and/orother related parameters. For example, as described herein, the softwareapplication program 1508 include instructions for processing consumptiondata 1536 a to generate GHG emissions data 1536 b and CFI data 1536 c.Additionally, in some embodiments, the software application programs1508 include one or more sets of instructions and/or other features thatcan enable the server 1510 to administer the guarantee mechanism (e.g.,16 in FIG. 1), the trading host/platform (e.g., 18 in FIG. 1), theclearing system (e.g., 106 in FIG. 3), and the other mechanisms andsystems previously described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-14. Thesoftware application programs 1504, 1508 can be provided using acombination of built-in features of one or more commercially availablesoftware application programs and/or in combination with one or morecustom-designed software modules. Although the features and/oroperations of the software application programs 1504, 1508 are describedherein as being executed in a distributed fashion (e.g., operationsperformed on the networked client and servers 1506, 1510), those ofordinary skill in the art will understand that at least some of theoperations of the software application programs 1504, 1508 can beexecuted within one or more digital data processing devices that can beconnected by a desired digital data path (e.g. point-to-point,networked, data bus, etc.).

The digital data processing device 1506, 1510 includes a personalcomputer, a computer workstation (e.g., Sun, Hewlett-Packard), a laptopcomputer, a server computer, a mainframe computer, a handheld device(e.g., a personal digital assistant, a Pocket Personal Computer (PC), acellular telephone, etc.), an information appliance, and/or another typeof generic or special-purpose, processor-controlled device capable ofreceiving, processing, and/or transmitting digital data. A processor1514 refers to the logic circuitry that responds to and processesinstructions that drive digital data processing devices and includes,without limitation, a central processing unit, an arithmetic logic unit,an application specific integrated circuit, a task engine, and/orcombinations, arrangements, or multiples thereof.

The instructions executed by a processor 1514 represent, at a low level,a sequence of “0's” and “1's” that describe one or more physicaloperations of a digital data processing device. These instructions canbe pre-loaded into a programmable memory (e.g., an electrically erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM)) that is accessible to theprocessor 1514 and/or can be dynamically loaded into/from one or morevolatile (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM), a cache, etc.) and/ornon-volatile (e.g., a hard drive, etc.) memory elements communicativelycoupled to the processor 1514. The instructions can, for example,correspond to the initialization of hardware within the digital dataprocessing devices 1506, 1510, an operating system 1516 that enables thehardware elements to communicate under software control and enablesother computer programs to communicate, and/or software applicationprograms 1504, 1508 that are designed to perform operations for othercomputer programs, such as operations relating to computing GHGemissions and compliance CFIs. The operating system 1516 can supportsingle-threading and/or multi-threading, where a thread refers to anindependent stream of execution running in a multi-tasking environment.A single-threaded system is capable of executing one thread at a time,while a multi-threaded system is capable of supporting multipleconcurrently executing threads and can perform multiple taskssimultaneously.

A local user 1502 can interact with the client 1506 by, for example,viewing a command line, using a graphical and/or other user interface,and entering commands via an input device, such as a mouse, a keyboard,a touch sensitive screen, a track ball, a keypad, etc. The userinterface can be generated by a graphics subsystem 1522 of the client1506, which renders the interface into an on- or off-screen surface(e.g., on a display device 1526 and/or in a video memory). Inputs fromthe user 1502 can be received via an input/output (I/O) subsystem 1524and routed to a processor 1514 via an internal bus (e.g., system bus)for execution under the control of the operating system 1516.

Similarly, a remote user (not shown) can interact with the digital dataprocessing devices 1506, 1510 over the network 1512. The inputs from theremote user can be received and processed in whole or in part by aremote digital data processing device collocated with the remote user.Alternatively and/or in combination, the inputs can be transmitted backto and processed by the local client 1506 or to another digital dataprocessing device via one or more networks using, for example, thinclient technology. The user interface of the local client 1506 can alsobe reproduced, in whole or in part, at the remote digital dataprocessing device collocated with the remote user by transmittinggraphics information to the remote device and instructing the graphicssubsystem of the remote device to render and display at least part ofthe interface to the remote user. Network communications between two ormore digital data processing devices can include a networking subsystem1520 (e.g., a network interface card) to establish the communicationslink between the devices. The communications link interconnecting thedigital data processing devices can include elements of a datacommunications network, a point to point connection, a bus, and/oranother type of digital data path capable of conveyingprocessor-readable data.

In one illustrative operation, the processor 1514 of the client 1506executes instructions associated with the software application program1504 (including, for example, runtime instructions specified, at leastpartially, by the local user 1502 and/or by another software applicationprogram, such as a batch-type program) that can instruct the processor1514 to at least partially control the operation of the graphicssubsystem 1522 in rendering and displaying a graphical user interface(including, for example, one or more menus, windows, and/or other visualobjects) on the display device 1526.

The network 1512 can include a series of network nodes (e.g., the clientand the servers 1506, 1510) that can be interconnected by networkdevices and wired and/or wireless communication lines (e.g., publiccarrier lines, private lines, satellite lines, etc.) that enable thenetwork nodes to communicate. The transfer of data (e.g., messages)between network nodes can be facilitated by network devices, such asrouters, switches, multiplexers, bridges, gateways, etc., that canmanipulate and/or route data from an originating node to a server noderegardless of dissimilarities in the network topology (e.g., bus, star,token ring), spatial distance (e.g., local, metropolitan, wide areanetwork), transmission technology (e.g., transfer controlprotocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), Systems Network Architecture), datatype (e.g., data, voice, video, multimedia), nature of connection (e.g.,switched, non-switched, dial-up, dedicated, or virtual), and/or physicallink (e.g., optical fiber, coaxial cable, twisted pair, wireless, etc.)between the originating and server network nodes.

FIG. 15 shows processes 1528, 1530, 1532, and 1550. A process refers tothe execution of instructions that interact with operating parameters,message data/parameters, network connection parameters/data, variables,constants, software libraries, and/or other elements within an executionenvironment in a memory of a digital data processing device that causesa processor to control the operations of the digital data processingdevice in accordance with the desired features and/or operations of anoperating system, a software application program, and/or another type ofgeneric or specific-purpose application program (or subparts thereof).For example, a network connection process 1528, 1530 refers to a set ofinstructions and/or other elements that enable the digital dataprocessing devices 1506, 1510, respectively, to establish acommunication link and communicate with other digital data processingdevices during one or more sessions. A session refers to a series oftransactions communicated between two network nodes during the span of asingle network connection, where the session begins when the networkconnection is established and terminates when the connection is ended. Adatabase interface process 1532 refers to a set of instructions andother elements that enable the server 1510 to access the database 1534and/or other types of data repositories to obtain access to, forexample, user account data 1536, computation rules 1542, and computationparameters 1544. The accessed information can be provided to thesoftware application program 1508 for further processing andmanipulation. An administrative process 1550 refers to a set ofinstructions and other features that enable the server 1510 to monitor,control, and/or otherwise administer a cash flow computation. Forexample, the administrative process 1550 can a) maintain and updateconfiguration, runtime, and/or session data for the one or more digitaldata processing devices 1506, 1510 and/or the software applicationprograms 1504, 1508 executing on the devices 1506, 1510, b) providebuffer management, multi-threaded services, and/or data structuremanagement, c) provide initialization parameters to the digital dataprocessing devices 1506, 1510 and/or the software application programs1504, 1508, d) manage groups of objects (e.g., groups of data elementsstored on the digital data processing devices 1506, 1510 and/or storedor otherwise maintained in the database 1534, groups of softwareapplication programs 1504, 1508, groups of members authorized to accesssoftware application programs 1504, 1508, groups of licenses, etc.), e)manage relationships between objects in response to messagescommunicated between the one or more digital data processing devices1506, 1510, f) provide one or more support services (e.g.,encryption/decryption, compression, path routing, message parsing,message format manipulation, etc.) to the digital data processingdevices 1506, 1510, and/or g) provide load balancing based on, forexample, processor usage/availability, network usage/availability,memory usage/availability, software application programusage/availability, message length, and/or message volume.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that, although theillustrated processes 1528, 1530, 1532, and 1550 and their features aredescribed as being separate, the illustrated processes and/or theirfeatures can be combined into one or more processes. One or more of theillustrated processes 1528, 1350, 1532, and 1550 can be provided using acombination of built-in features of one or more commercially availablesoftware application programs and/or in combination with one or morecustom-designed software modules.

The databases 1534 can be stored on a non-volatile storage medium or adevice known to those of ordinary skill in the art (e.g., compact disk(CD), digital video disk (DVD), magnetic disk, internal hard drive,external hard drive, random access memory (RAM), redundant array ofindependent disks (RAID), or removable memory device). As shown in FIG.15, the databases 1534 can be located remotely from the client 1506. Insome embodiments, the databases 1534 can be located locally to theclient 1506 and/or can be integrated into the client 1506. The databases1534 can include distributed databases. The databases 1534 can includedifferent types of data content and/or different formats for stored datacontent. For example, the databases 1534 can include tables and othertypes of data structures.

Member account data 1536 includes data that identifies the members ofsystem 1500, data that relates to the members' consumption of energysources, and data that relates to the members' holdings on the marketadministered by system 1500. Data identifying the members can includethe members' names, contact information, login information (e.g.,usernames and/or passwords), and/or other similar types of informationknown to those of ordinary skill in the art. Data relating to themembers' consumption of energy sources includes consumption data 1536 a,GHG emissions data 1536 b, and CFI data 1536 c. In most embodiments,such data are associated with time identifiers that identify theirvintage, i.e., the time intervals to which they pertain (e.g.,consumption data for year 2000). In some of such embodiments, such datamay be used, e.g., by the members, the members' exchange, and/or anotherinstitution in which the members participate, to track or otherwisemonitor the members' consumption of energy sources, GHG emissions, etc.over time. Data relating to the members' holdings on the market mayinclude the members' holdings of CFIs and other related instruments, aspreviously described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-14.

Consumption data 1536 a quantify the members' consumption of energysources. As described further herein, consumption data 1536 a aredetermined by and/or otherwise provided by the members to system 1500.Since energy sources may include sources that are consumed duringtransportation and sources that are consumed independent oftransportation, consumption data 1536 a include transportation data andnon-transportation data.

Transportation data occur when a member (e.g., an employee of a membercompany) travels in a vehicle from one location to another. The vehiclemay include an air-based vehicle (e.g., a plane, a helicopter, and ahot-air balloon), a ground-based vehicle (e.g., a train, a bus, a car,and a motorcycle), a water-based vehicle (e.g., a boat and a submarine),or a mixed-media vehicle (e.g., a hovercraft and an amphibious vehicle).In some embodiments, transportation data are represented in terms ofvehicle fuel consumed during transportation. The amount of fuel consumedcan be determined based on fuel receipts and/or other indicators knownto those of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively and/or incombination, in some embodiments, transportation data are represented interms of distance traveled by a vehicle. Such transportation data can beconverted to fuel consumed based on modifying the transportation data bythe fuel efficiency of the vehicle. The fuel efficiency of the vehiclemay be the default fuel efficiency of the vehicle (e.g., the efficiencypublished by the vehicle manufacturer) or a customized fuel efficiencyof the vehicle (e.g., the efficiency as determined by a member, e.g., anassociate member).

Non-transportation data occur when a member consumes an energy source inan activity other than transportation. Some examples of these activitiesinclude, but are not limited to, production of a product at amanufacturing plant and operation of an office building. In someembodiments, non-transportation data are represented in terms of energysource consumed (e.g., coal, electricity, or natural gas consumed duringproduction of a product). The amount of energy source consumed can bedetermined based on energy source receipts and/or other indicators thatare known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively and/or incombination, in some embodiments, the non-transportation data arerepresented in terms of an activity-specific intermediate, e.g., anamount of a product produced or consumed, a feedstock consumed duringproduction of a product, and an amount of office space occupied by anoffice facility. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in theart, such non-transportation data may be converted to energy sourcesconsumed based on modifying the non-transportation data by an efficiencythat is similar to a fuel efficiency in the context of transportationdata. For example, an amount of office space can be converted to anamount of electricity consumed based on the product of the amount ofoffice space and a weight (sometimes referred to herein as a consumptionfactor) that represents a statistical measure of the amount ofelectricity typically consumed per unit of office space. The statisticalmeasure can be associated with a geographic location (e.g., a country(such as the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, and Canada), astate, a region, etc.) and can be determined based on publicly availableinformation, such as the information that is described below withrespect to emissions factors.

As understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, consumption data1536 a may not be readily available to members. For example, consumptiondata 1536 a related to operation of a building may not be readilyavailable to members (e.g., tenants) who occupy an amount of officespace in the building, due to leasing arrangements, rental arrangements,and/or other factors. Preferably, therefore, as described herein, thedisclosed systems and methods provide and/or otherwise utilize emissionfactors, weights, and other statistical factors that estimate energyconsumption in units that are likely to be accessible to members, suchas, but not limited to, units of occupied office space, units ofdistance traveled in a mode of transportation (e.g., per unit ofdistance traveled in a plane or a jet), etc.

GHG emissions data 1536 b include GHG emissions that are computed bysystem 1500 based on consumption data 1536 a. Usually, the computed GHGemissions are expressed in conventional units, e.g., tons or metric tonsof CO₂. In some embodiments, however, the computed GHG emissions areexpressed in non-conventional units, e.g., units selected by and/orotherwise provided by a member. These non-conventional units cangenerally be converted to conventional using standard conversionfactors.

GHG emissions data 1536 b also include baseline quantities of GHGemissions and target quantities of baseline emissions that are computedby system 1500 based on the consumption data 1536 a. As previouslydescribed herein with respect to FIGS. 1-14, a rule (e.g., an average)may be applied to a member's GHG emissions over a first time interval todetermine the member's baseline quantity of GHG emissions, and anotherrule (e.g., a percentage reduction) may be applied to the baselinequantity to determine a target amount of GHG emissions for a secondlater time interval.

The system also advantageously computes emission reduction equivalentsthrough the use of conservation factors for participants such as and inparticular for the environmental benefactors. This feature assistsmembers in determining whether or not purchases of additional CFIs arerequired to achieve the reduction schedule. After calculating GHGemissions and emission reduction equivalents, the member may stillexceed its target amount of GHG emissions. Therefore, it may be requiredto purchase debits from other members or environmental benefactors to bein compliance with its reduction schedule. In addition, the systemallows any entity to earn a credit or allowance by conductingenvironmentally beneficial activities, such as the environmentalbenefactors or even including the voluntary emission reducers, tocalculate a certain emission reduction equivalent for environmentallyfriendly activities, such as planting trees or reforesting, notdisturbing soil for a particular acreage of land in a specific location,or even for cleaning up or reducing pollution in other areas. Thesecredits may then be purchased by the member, thus further facilitatingtrade among participants to enable the voluntary emission reducers toachieve their desired and state pollution reduction goals.

CFI data 1536 c include compliance CFIs that are determined by system1500 based on computed GHG emissions and target GHG emissions.

Computation rules 1542 include rules for computing the GHG emissions,rules for computing baseline quantities of GHG emissions, rules forcomputing target quantities of GHG emissions, and rules for computingcompliance CFIs. Usually, as further described herein, a member's GHGemissions are computed based on a product of the member's consumptiondata 1536 a for each type of energy source consumed and a correspondingemissions factor. The baseline quantities and the target quantities arecomputed based on applying the schemes previously described herein withrespect to FIGS. 1-14.

Computation parameters 1544 include emissions factors for a variety ofenergy sources. Generally, each emissions factor in computationparameters 1544 is associated with a type of energy source; eachemissions factor is also associated with a geographic location and/or anenergy provider. Emissions factors depend on the type of energy sourceconsumed and how that energy source was generated by its provider. Forexample, the emissions factor for automobile travel depends on whetherthe fuel is gasoline, diesel, or electricity, as well as how efficientlythe car uses fuel. Also, emissions factors for energy sources that arenot fossil fuels (i.e., energy sources that are not, e.g., coal,gasoline, or natural gas) depend on how that energy source is generated.For example, the emissions factor for electricity produced by coal isdifferent than the emissions factor for electricity produced by naturalgas. Additionally, emissions factors for fossil fuels and non-fossilfuels depend on the technology used by the providers of the energysource (e.g., the technology used by a power plant). Since differentproviders of an energy source tend to use different technologies, andsince different providers tend to serve different geographic locations,the emissions factor for an energy source tends to vary among providersand geographic locations. Emissions factors for countries, geographicsub-divisions therein (e.g., provinces, regions, and states), and energyproviders are published by a variety of entities, such as governmentalagencies (e.g., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)),non-governmental agencies (e.g., power plants), and intergovernmentalagencies (e.g., the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Forexample, the U.S. EPA provides a database of emissions factors and otherinformation for U. S. energy providers that is commonly referred to asE-GRID.

As known by those of ordinary skill in the art, the most local emissionsfactor for an energy source tends to be the most accurate measure of theGHG emissions that result from consumption of that energy source.Preferably, therefore, the disclosed systems and methods compute the GHGemissions that result from the consumption of an energy source based onthe most local emissions factor available, in which the most localemissions factor is the emissions factor that is associated with theprovider of the energy source.

As also known by those of ordinary skill in the art, the emissionsfactors for fossil fuels are constant, but the emissions factors fornon-fossil fuels tend vary over time. As such, in some embodiments ofthe disclosed systems and methods, one or more of the softwareapplication programs 1508 is configured to update the emissions factorsin computation parameters 1544 at time intervals based on communicatingover network 1512 with one or more databases (e.g., the E-GRID database)and/or other sources of emissions factors.

In some embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods provide and/orotherwise utilize one or more of the following types of emissionsfactors and other factors related to consumption of energy sources: (1)for office buildings in the U.S.: (a) regional average electricityconsumption factors per unit of office space (e.g., factors for one ormore of the fifty U.S. states), (b) regional average natural gasconsumption factors per unit of office space, and (c) regionalelectricity emission factors; (2) for office buildings in Canada,Mexico, and the United Kingdom: (a) national average electricity andnatural gas consumption factors per unit of occupied office space, and(b) national electricity emission factors.

As previously described, consumption data can be expressed in a varietyof units, including units of an energy source consumed and units ofdistance traveled. For example, data quantifying consumption of atransportation energy source can include gallons of fuel consumed,liters of fuel consumed, miles traveled, and kilometers traveled. Assuch, in some embodiments, computation parameters 1544 include emissionsfactors in default units (e.g., tons of CO₂ produced per units of energyconsumed) and computation rules 1542 include one or more rules formodifying the default units so that they are compatible with the unitsof the consumption data (or, alternatively, one or more rules formodifying the units of the consumption data so that they are compatiblewith the default units), i.e., so that the units of the product of theemissions factor and the consumption data are units of GHG emissions,e.g., tons of CO₂ produced. For example, computation rules 1542 caninclude one or more rules for converting between units in a metricsystem and units in a non-metric system (e.g., liters to gallons), rulesfor converting between units within a system (e.g., kiloWatts toMegaWatts), and/or rules for converting between units of an energysource consumed and units of an activity-specific intermediate (e.g.,miles traveled to gallons of gasoline consumed). The rules forconverting between units of an energy source consumed and units of anactivity-specific intermediate can be based on one or more efficiencies,e.g., fuel efficiencies.

FIG. 16 shows an illustrative display of a graphical user interface thatfacilitates computations of GHG emissions and compliance CFIs. As willbe understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the illustrativedisplay is to be interpreted in an exemplary manner, and displaysdifferent than that shown and described herein can be used within thescope of the present disclosure. For example, features of theillustrative display can be combined, separated, interchanged, and/orrearranged to generate other displays. Also for example, displays withinthe scope of the present disclosure can include one or more check boxes,one or more response boxes, one or more radio buttons, one or morepull-down menus, one or more icons, and/or one or more other visualobjects to facilitate computations. As will also be understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art, the illustrative display can be providedby a server (e.g., a software application program 1508 residing on aserver 1510) to a client (e.g., a software application program 1504residing on a client 1506) in system 1500. The illustrative display isdescribed in the context of interactions (e.g., requests and responses)between client 1506 and server 1510 in system 1500.

As shown in FIG. 16, the display 1600 (also referred to herein as anemissions calculator window 1600) includes an identification region1602, a certification region 1604, a location region 1605, a consumptiondata region 1606, a computation region 1608, and an opt-in region 1609.The identification region 1602 includes a query box 1610 for providing amember name and a pull-down menu 1612 for selecting a compliance year,e.g., the year for which the member seeks to compute his GHG emissionsand/or compliance CFIs so as to comply with regulations of the marketadministered by system 1500. The certification region 1604 includes aquery box 1614 for providing a user signature and a timestamp 1616. Thelocation region 1605 includes a pull-down menu for selecting thegeographic location of the energy consumption. The consumption dataregion 1606 includes pull-down menus 1620 for selecting consumptionunits (labeled “reporting units” in FIG. 16) and query boxes 1622 forproviding consumption data in the selected consumption units. Theconsumption data region 1606 also includes a pull-down menu 1620 a forselecting among consumption data reporting methods for an automobile,e.g., actual fuel receipts, distance traveled and default fuelefficiency, or distance traveled and customized fuel efficiency. Thecomputation region 1608 includes response boxes in which system 1500provides emissions factors (labeled “conversion factor” in FIG. 16) fromcomputation parameters 1644, computed GHG emissions (labeled “CO₂emissions” in FIG. 16), compliance CFIs, and other related parameters.The opt-in region 1609 includes query boxes in which a member canprovide additional data relating to GHG emissions, e.g., GHG emissionsresulting from energy sources other than those shown in the consumptiondata region 1606. As shown in FIG. 16, the display 1600 presents asingle display “screen” for calculating CO2 emissions from a range ofenergy sources, including, but not limited to, energy sources foroffices. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art,one or more features of the display 1600 can be presented on two or moredisplay “screens.”

In one illustrative operation and with reference to FIG. 15, thesoftware application program executing within the memory 1518 of theclient 1506 can detect a request 1548 to compute GHG emissions from themember 1502 by, for example, receiving an indication from the I/Osubsystem 1524 that detected a mouse click, a keyboard entry, and/oranother input event initiated by the user 1502. In response to therequest 1548, the software application program 1504 instructs thegraphics subsystem 1522 (via the processor 1514) to display thecalculator window 1600. The parameters selected by and the consumptiondata provided by the member 1502 can be maintained in the memory 1518 ofthe client 1506 prior to transmission to the server 1510 via the network1512. The software application program 1504 can apply one or more datavalidation rules to the parameters and/or the consumption data to reducethe occurrence of erroneous entries. One or more of these rules can becontained in memory 1518. Alternatively and/or in combination, thesoftware application program 1504 can access one or more of these rulesfrom the database 1534 via the network 1512.

With continuing reference to FIG. 15, the software application program1504 can instruct the network connection process 1528 of the client 1506to transmit the parameters and the consumption data provided by the user1502 to a calculation process or another software process associatedwith the software application program 1508 executing on the server 1510by, for example, encoding, encrypting, and/or compressing the selectedrequest 1548 into a stream of data packets that can be transmittedbetween the networking subsystems 1520 of the digital data processingdevices 1506, 1510. The network connection process 1530 executing on theserver 1510 can receive, decompress, decrypt, and/or decode theinformation contained in the data packets and can store such elements ina memory accessible to the software application program 1508. Thesoftware application program 1508 can process the received data by, forexample, storing the received data in computation data 1536 a, applyingone or more computation rules 1542 to the computation data 1536 so as tocompute GHG emissions data 1536 b and/or CFI data 1536 c, and providethe computed GHG emissions data 1536 and/or computed CFI data 1536 c tothe member 1502.

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a method forcomputing GHG emissions for a member of system 1500. As will beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the disclosed systemsand methods are not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 17 and cancompute GHG emissions for a member based on features that are differentthan and/or additional to those shown in FIG. 17.

As shown in FIG. 17, a request from a client (e.g., client 1506 incommunication with member 1502) for computing GHG emissions based onconsumption of energy sources is received at a server (e.g., server1510) in system 1500 (1710 in FIG. 17). Based on receiving the request,server 1510 (e.g., a software application program 1508 residing onserver 1510) provides a location feature that is related to thegeographic location of energy consumption and/or the resulting GHGemissions and that is associated with location options for selection byclient 1506 (1720 in FIG. 3). For example, server 1510 can provide thelocation feature via the location region 1605 in the calculator window1600 of FIG. 16. The location options include geographic locations, suchas countries and sub-divisions within countries (e.g., provinces,states, regions, etc.). Alternatively and/or in combination, in someembodiments, server 1510 provides a location feature that is related tothe energy sources consumed and that is associated with energy sourceprovider options for selection by client 1506. The provider options caninclude identifiers for energy providers, e.g., identifiers based on theE-GRID database.

With continuing reference to FIG. 17, based on receiving the request,server 1510 provides energy source features, in which each energy sourcefeature is related to a type of energy source consumed (e.g., coal,electricity, natural gas, or vehicle fuel) and is associated withconsumption units for selection by client 1506 (1730 in FIG. 3). Forexample, server 1510 can provide the energy source features via theconsumption data region 1606 in the calculator window 1600 of FIG. 16.Generally, server 1510 provides energy source features that are relatedto at least two types of energy sources. The energy sources can includesources that are consumed during transportation and/or sources that areconsumed independent of transportation. The consumption units caninclude a variety of units, such as units for an amount of an energysource consumed (e.g.,Watt hours of electricity) and units for anactivity-specific intermediate (e.g., kilometers traveled in a vehicle).In some embodiments, the units of the activity-specific intermediate aremodified by an efficiency. For example, the units of a transportationsource consumed can include an amount of the source consumed based onsource purchase receipts, an amount of the source consumed based ondistance traveled in a vehicle and a default fuel efficiency of thevehicle, and an mount of the source consumed based on distance traveledin a vehicle and customized fuel efficiency of the vehicle (e.g., a fuelefficiency determined and/or otherwise provided by a member).

With continuing reference to FIG. 17, server 1510 requests and/orotherwise queries client 1506 to provide consumption data for eachenergy source in the consumption units that were selected for thatenergy source (1740 in FIG. 17). For example, server 1510 can queryclient 1506 to provide the consumption data via the consumption dataregion 1606 in the calculator window 1600 of FIG. 16. The consumptiondata can be obtained by member 1502 and provided to client 1506 based onthe schemes previously described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-14.

Subsequently, server 1510 determines an emissions factor for each energysource based on the energy source type, the selected geographiclocation, and the selected consumption units (1750 in FIG. 17).Generally, server 1510 makes this determination based on querying thedatabases 1534 (i.e., computation parameters 1544) to determine whetherthey include an emission factor that is associated with the energysource type and the selected location. Based on finding the emissionsfactor, server 1510 proceeds to compute GHG emissions (1760 in FIG. 17).

In some scenarios, the emissions factor for a combination of energysource type and selected location may not be available in databases1534. In some embodiments, therefore, server 1510 may search for theemissions factor. For example, server 1510 may request the emissionsfactor from a database that is in communication with network 1512, suchas a database that is maintained by a governmental agency, e.g., theE-GRID database hosted by the U.S. EPA, and/or may search one or morenetworks in communication with network 1512 for the emissions factorbased on schemes known to those of ordinary skill in the art.Alternatively and/or in combination, in some embodiments, server 1510queries the databases 1534 to determine whether they include anemissions factor that is associated with the energy source and alocation that is less specific than the selected location (e.g., acountry, instead of a geographic sub-division of a country). Based onfinding such an emissions factor, server 1510 proceeds to compute GHGemissions (1760 in FIG. 17).

In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, server1510 provides the determined emissions factor to client 1506 via thecomputation region 1608 in the calculator window 1600 of FIG. 16.

As previously described, the consumption data for an energy source canbe expressed in a variety of consumption units. In some embodiments,therefore, server 1510 applies one or more rules from computation rules1542 to modify the default units of the emission factor so that they arecompatible with the units of the consumption data. In some of suchembodiments, such as those embodiments in which the determined emissionsfactor is provided to client 1506, server 1510 applies those one or morerules prior to computing the GHG emissions. Alternatively, server 1510applies those one or more rules during computation of the GHG emissions.

With continuing reference to FIG. 17, server 1510 computes the GHGemissions for each energy source type based on the product of theconsumption data and the emissions factor that correspond to that energysource type (1760 in FIG. 17). As previously described, server 1510 mayapply one or more rules from computation rules 1542 to the emissionsfactor and/or the consumption data so that their product has units ofGHG emissions, e.g., tons of CO₂ or another unit, such as a unitselected by and/or otherwise provided by a member. In some embodiments,server 1510 computes total GHG emissions for a member based on the sumof the GHG emissions for each energy source type consumed (1770 in FIG.17). Additionally, server 1510 may compute the fraction of the total GHGemissions that are attributable to the consumption of each energy sourcetype. In some embodiments, such as embodiment shown in FIG. 16, server1510 provides the computed GHG emissions data, e.g., the GHG emissionsthat are computed for each energy source type and the total GHGemissions for the member, to client 1506 via computation region 1608 incalculator window 1600.

As previously described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-14, members mayoffset their GHG emissions by exchanging and/or retiring CFIs. (As usedhereinafter, the term CFI can be understood to be a collective referenceto GHG emissions offsets, including, but not limited to, the GHGemissions offsets previously described herein with respect to FIGS.1-14.) FIG. 18 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a method forcomputing a quantity of compliance CFIs for a member, i.e., the quantityof CFIs that will offset the member's GHG emissions. As will beunderstood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the disclosed systemsand methods are not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 and cancompute compliance CFIs based on features that are different than and/oradditional to those shown in FIG. 18.

As shown in FIG. 18, a request from a client (e.g., client 1506 incommunication with member 1502) for computing compliance CFIs isreceived at a server (e.g., server 1510) in system 1500 (1810 in FIG.18). Based on receiving the request, server 1510 requests and/orotherwise queries client 1506 to provide location data that representsthe geographic location of the member's energy consumption andconsumption data that quantifies the member's energy consumption (1820in FIG. 18). Generally, server 1510 requests and/or otherwise queriesclient 1506 for the location and consumption data based on featurespreviously described herein with respect to 1720-1740 in FIG. 17.Subsequently, server 1510 computes the resulting GHG emissions based onfeatures previously described herein with respect to 1760-1770 in FIG.17 (1830 in FIG. 18).

With continuing reference to FIG. 18, server 1510 determines complianceCFIs for the client based on a measure of the difference between (i) theGHG emissions computed at 1830 and (ii) target GHG emissions (1840 inFIG. 18). The measure of difference can include a difference, adifference of squares, a root mean square difference, and/or othermeasures of difference known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Insome embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, server 1510provides the determined compliance CFIs to client 1506 via computationregion 1608 in calculator window 1600.

As previously described, server 1510 determines the compliance CFIsbased on computed GHG emissions and target GHG emissions for the member.In some embodiments, the target GHG emissions are determined and/orotherwise provided by client 1506 (i.e., member 1502 in communicationwith client 1506) to server 1510. Alternatively, in some embodiments,server 1510 computes the target GHG emissions based on the schemespreviously described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-14. For example, inone such embodiment, server 1510 computes the target GHG emissions basedon applying a rule (e.g., a reduction rule) to a baseline quantity ofGHG emissions for the member. The baseline quantity of GHG emissions maybe determined and/or otherwise provided by client 1506 to server 1510.Alternatively, server 1510 may compute the baseline quantity based onthe schemes previously described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-14. Forexample, in one such embodiment, server 1510 computes the baselineemissions based on applying a rule (e.g., an average or a weightedaverage) to consumption data for a time interval.

In some embodiments, server 1510 provides a time interval feature toclient 1506 at 1820 in FIG. 18. The time interval feature is related tothe time interval of the member's energy consumption (e.g., a complianceyear) and is associated with selectable time interval options. Forexample, server 1510 can provide the time interval feature via theidentification region 1602 in the calculator window 1600 of FIG. 16. Inone such embodiment, server 1510 provides the time interval feature soas to obtain consumption data from the client 1506 for different timeintervals. Using such consumption data, server 1510 can compute GHGemissions for each of the different time intervals, a baseline quantityof GHG emissions based on those computed GHG emissions, a targetquantity of GHG emissions for a later time interval, and compliance CFIsfor that later time interval based on the previously described schemes.

Advantageously, the systems and methods shown and described herein withrespect to FIGS. 15-18 can be used by a member to compute its GHGemissions and compliance CFIs and thereby manage its consumption ofenergy sources. For example, an associate member can use thoseembodiments to compute its direct GHG emissions (e.g., emissions thatare associated with the operation of its office facility and emissionsthat are associated with the operation of vehicles that it owns, rents,or leases for business purposes), its indirect GHG emissions (e.g.,emissions that are associated with its purchases of electricity andother non-transportation sources for business purposes and emissionsthat are associated with business travel (via, e.g., aircraft, urbanbus, commuter rail, and intercity rail), its opt-in GHG emissions (e.g.,emissions associated with its business events (such as retreats, annualmeetings, and holiday parties) and emissions associated with itsemployees' non-business activities (such as commuting, home energyusage, travel, and materials consumption)), and its compliance CFIs foroffsetting those GHG emissions.

As previously described herein with respect to FIGS. 1-14, members maytrade CFIs on a market so as to reduce their GHG emissions and obtain aquantity of CFIs (and/or other related instruments) that is at leastequivalent to their compliance CFIs. FIG. 19 schematically illustratesan embodiment of a method for registering a member to trade CFIs on themarket. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, thedisclosed systems and methods are not limited to the embodiment shown inFIG. 18 and can register a member to trade CFIs on a market based onfeatures that are different than and/or additional to those shown inFIG. 19.

As shown in FIG. 19, a request from a client (e.g., client 1506 incommunication with member 1502) for trading CFIs is received at a server(e.g., server 1510) in system 1500 (1910 in FIG. 19). Based on receivingthe request, server 1510 determines whether the GHG emissions andcompliance CFIs have been computed for the member based on the schemesdescribed with respect to FIGS. 17 and 18 (1920 in FIG. 19). Generally,server 1510 makes this determination by searching databases 134 to findconsumption data 1536 a, GHG emissions data 1536 b, and CFI data 1536 cassociated with the member 1502. Based on determining that the GHGemissions for the member have been computed, server 1510 registers themember to trade on the market at least the compliance CFIs that werecomputed at 1840 in FIG. 18 (1940 in FIG. 19).

Based on determining that the GHG emissions for the member have not beencomputed, server 1510 requests and/or otherwise queries client 1506 fordata based on which to compute those emissions (1930 in FIG. 19). Server1510 may request and/or otherwise query client 1506 based on thefeatures previously described herein with respect to 1720-1740 in FIG.17 and/or 1820 in FIG. 18. Subsequently, server 1510 computes GHGemissions and compliance CFIs for the member (1935 in FIG. 19) andproceeds to 1940 in FIG. 19.

Advantageously, the systems and methods shown and described herein withrespect to FIG. 19 can be used to monitor members' GHG emissions andtheir compliance with market regulations. For example, a marketadministrator can use embodiments of the disclosed systems and methodsto determine whether members are complying with their obligations toreduce GHG emissions and to inhibit rogue members for tradingunregistered CFIs on the market. Moreover, requesting that membersprovide their consumption data to the market via signed and datedsubmissions (such as the submission shown in FIG. 16) can enhance theaccountability of the members' conduct on the market.

The systems and methods described herein are not limited to a hardwareor software configuration; they can find applicability in many computingor processing environments. The systems and methods can be implementedin hardware or software, or in a combination of hardware and software.The systems and methods can be implemented in one or more computerprograms, in which a computer program can be understood to comprise oneor more processor-executable instructions. The computer programs canexecute on one or more programmable processors, and can be stored on oneor more storage media readable by the processor, comprising volatile andnon-volatile memory and/or storage elements.

The computer programs can be implemented in high level procedural orobject oriented programming language to communicate with a computersystem. The computer programs can also be implemented in assembly ormachine language. The language can be compiled or interpreted.

In some embodiments, the computer programs can be implemented in one ormore spreadsheets. For example, the computer programs can be implementedin one or more spreadsheets based on Microsoft® Excel and can includeone or more macros and/or other functions.

The computer programs can be stored on a storage medium or a device(e.g., compact disk (CD), digital video disk (DVD), magnetic tape ordisk, internal hard drive, external hard drive, random access memory(RAM), redundant array of independent disks (RAID), or removable memorydevice) that is readable by a general or special purpose programmablecomputer for configuring and operating the computer when the storagemedium or device is read by the computer to perform the methodsdescribed herein.

Unless otherwise provided, references herein to memory can include oneor more processor-readable and -accessible memory elements and/orcomponents that can be internal to a processor-controlled device,external to a processor-controlled device, and/or can be accessed via awired or wireless network using one or more communications protocols,and, unless otherwise provided, can be arranged to include one or moreexternal and/or one or more internal memory devices, where such memorycan be contiguous and/or partitioned based on the application.

Unless otherwise provided, references herein to a/the processor anda/the microprocessor can be understood to include one or more processorsthat can communicate in stand-alone and/or distributed environment(s)and can be configured to communicate via wired and/or wirelesscommunications with one or more other processors, where such one or moreprocessor can be configured to operate on one or moreprocessor-controlled devices that can include similar or differentdevices. Use of such processor and microprocessor terminology can beunderstood to include a central processing unit, an arithmetic logicunit, an application-specific integrated circuit, and/or a task engine,with such examples provided for illustration and not limitation.

Unless otherwise provided, use of the articles “a” or “an” herein tomodify a noun can be understood to include one or more than one of themodified noun.

While the systems and methods described herein have been shown anddescribed with reference to the illustrated embodiments, those ofordinary skill in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain manyequivalents to the embodiments described herein by using no more thanroutine experimentation. Such equivalents are encompassed by the scopeof the present disclosure and the appended claims.

For example, other embodiments may include different additional, orfewer market rules to facilitate the operation and acceptance of the GHGtrading market.

Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein are not to belimited to the embodiments described herein, can include practices otherthan those described, and are to be interpreted as broadly as allowedunder prevailing law.

1. A computer-implemented method of promoting the reduction of emissionscomprising: registering participants voluntarily with an establishedentity; establishing an emission reduction schedule for a set futureperiod of time, including several years, for each registered participantthat produces emissions based on emissions information over previousyears provided by each registered participant; establishing tradablefinancial instruments, including emission allowances, emission offsets,and credits; issuing tradable emission allowances to each registeredparticipant based on the established reduction schedule; collectingemissions data for each registered participant; comparing the collectedemissions data with the corresponding data in the established reductionschedule for each registered participant; based on the comparing step,determining debits or credits for each registered participant; and basedon the determining step, if the registered participant's emissionsexceed the corresponding data in the established reduction schedule,debiting each registered participant a quantity of tradable financialinstruments, thereby penalizing the registered participant, wherein theregistered participant is required to purchase tradable financialinstruments to achieve compliance with the reduction schedule; and basedon the determining step, if the registered participant's emissions arebelow the corresponding data in the established reduction schedule,crediting each registered participant a quantity of tradable financialinstruments, thereby rewarding the registered participant, wherein theregistered participant can trade or bank those tradable financialinstruments.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the registeredparticipants further comprise environmental benefactors, the registeredparticipants that produce emissions comprise voluntary greenhouse (GHG)emission reducers and the method further comprises conducting tradesover the internet between the environmental benefactors and voluntaryGHG emission reducers.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the voluntaryGHG emission reducers comprise industrial entities, the environmentalbenefactors comprise non-industrial entities, and the voluntary GHGemission reducers obtain at least some of their tradable financialinstruments from the environmental benefactors.
 4. The method of claim3, wherein the non-industrial entities comprise (a) foresters, farmers,or others who prepare land for facilitating prevention of GHG emissionsor for capturing and storing carbon or carbon dioxide, or (b) businessesincluding law firms, advertising agencies, banks, shopping centers orother businesses that are capable of exerting control over utility ortransportation uses in order to reduce or conserve such uses to reduceGHG emissions caused by generation of power or electricity for providingsuch uses.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising providingcredits to environmental benefactors who conduct activities that includeplanting trees; keeping carbon released by plants in the soil; reducingelectricity consumption; reducing business travel; removing pollutantsfrom streams, lakes, landfills, or other environmentally unfriendlyareas; purchasing environmentally friendly products; or recycling, thusfacilitating trading of tradeable financial instruments by theenvironmental benefactors with the voluntary GHG emission reducers. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the establishment of the emissionreduction schedule comprises creating an emission reduction baselinebased on actual emissions and obtaining the registered participants'agreement to meet the reduction schedule by obtaining tradable financialinstruments.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising adjusting thebaseline due to changing emission factors.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the determination of debits or credits comprises considerationof the registered participant's use of alternative energy sources. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of debits or creditscomprises consideration of the registered participant's activities priorto its registration with the established entity.
 10. The method of claim9, wherein the activities comprise one or more of reforestation,assisted forest regeneration, avoided deforestation, fuel switching,landfill methane destruction, and renewable energy generation fromsolar, wind, small hydroelectric and biomass systems.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising establishing emission monitoring rules thatdesignate which activities count toward emissions.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising independently verifying that the registeredparticipants are properly providing the emissions data to achieveemission reductions according to the established reduction schedule. 13.The method of claim 1, wherein participation by the registeredparticipants is across multiple countries and trading is conducted overthe internet.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising computingtradable carbon financial instruments for the registered participantsbased on an energy consumption or conservation activity.
 15. The methodof claim 14, wherein the energy consumption or conservation sourceactivities include at least one of: power generation activities,transportation activities, and non-transportation activities, in whicheach transportation activity is related to an energy source consumedduring transportation and is associated with selectable activity unitsthat include one or more of: units of transportation fuel consumedduring transportation and units of distance traveled duringtransportation, optionally modified by fuel efficiency values, and inwhich each non-transportation energy activity is related to an energysource consumed independent of transportation and is associated withselectable activity units that include one or more of: units of energyconsumed during production of a product, units of a feedstock consumedduring production of a product, units of a product produced, units of aproduct consumed, units of energy consumed during operation of an officefacility, and units of office space occupied by an office facility. 16.A computer-implemented system for promoting the reduction of emissionscomprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to: registerparticipants voluntarily with an established entity; establish anemission reduction schedule for a set future period of time, includingseveral years, for each registered participant that produces emissionsbased on emissions information over previous years provided by eachregistered participant; establish tradable financial instruments,including emission allowances, emission offsets, and credits; issuetradable emission allowances to each registered participant based on theestablished reduction schedule; collect emissions data for eachregistered participant; compare the collected emissions data with thecorresponding data in the established reduction schedule; based on thecomparison, determine debits or credits for each registered participantfor each year of that period of time; and based on the determination, ifthe registered participant's emissions exceed the corresponding data inthe established reduction schedule, debit each registered participant aquantity of tradable financial instruments, thereby penalizing theregistered participant, wherein the registered participant is requiredto purchase tradable financial instruments to achieve compliance withthe established reduction schedule; or based on the determination, ifthe registered participant's emissions are below the corresponding datain the established reduction schedule, credit each registeredparticipant a quantity of tradable financial instruments, therebyrewarding the registered participant, wherein the registered participantcan trade or bank those tradable financial instruments.
 17. The systemof claim 16, wherein the registered participants comprise environmentalbenefactors, the registered participants that produce emissions comprisevoluntary GHG emission reducers, the tradable financial instrumentsrepresent emission reduction amounts based on the emissions informationor activities of the environmental benefactors, and the processor isfurther configured to conduct trades of the tradable financialinstruments between the environmental benefactors and the voluntary GHGreducers to enable each registered participant that produces emissionsto achieve its reduction schedule.
 18. The system of claim 16, whereinthe processor is further configured to provide registered participantswith tradable early action credits or renewable energy certificates toprovide for long term planning to achieve emission reductions accordingto the established reduction schedule, and is configured to conducttrades of such credits or certificates over the internet